Bio-Sketch:

Professor, Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks (1976-present)

Education

Ph.D., Solid State Physics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 1966
M.S., Solid State Physics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 1964
B.S., Electrical Engineering ,University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 1961

Teaching

Research

Bioavailability of essential trace elements determined through whole body counting of radio isotope tracers; lead-210 impurities of lead used in computer chip electrical contacts (solder bumps); distribution, uptake and biological effects of environmental radon in humans, presence of radon progeny in diesel in diesel exhaust.

Publications

More than 100 publications in refereed journals and conference proceedings in experimental fields with topics in thin films including magnet anisotropy and spin wave resonance in Permalloy films, superconducting tunneling and in single crystal films of lead; whole body counting of low-level gamma emissions from humans including uptake and regional distribution of radon progeny and bioavailability of essential trace elements; Po-210 alpha particle spectroscopy including emissions from brain tissues and from lead. A few examples are given below.

"Potential Errors in Body Composition as Estimated by Whole Body Scintillation Counting," G.I. Lykken, H.C. Lukaski, W.M. Bolonchuk and H.H. Sandstead, J. Lab. Clin. Med. 101 (1983) 651. Demonstrated bodyuptake of environmental radon.

"Evidence of Exhalation of Stored Environmental Rn Determined by Whole-Body Counting," Health Physics 57(1989) 161. Demonstrated environmental radon can be "flushed" from the body.

"A Whole Body Counting Technique Using Ultralow Doses of 59Fe and 65Zn in Absorption and Retention Studies in Humans," G.I. Lykken. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 37 (1983) 652. Demonstrated radiation dose from administered tracer could be less than naturally occurring dose over study period.

"Perquisite Spin-off From Twenty-Two Years of Measuring Background in the Whole Body Counter Steel Room," In Vivo body composition studies. G. I. Lykken, H.S. Ong HS,H.A. Alkhatib, T.R. Harris TR, B. Momcilovic and J.G. Penland. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 04 (2000) 267. Summarized how evidence of radon progeny lead to further radon research in Alzeheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

"Preference of environmental radon progeny for brain proteins in Alzheimer's Disease and brain lipids in Parkinson's Disease," B. Momcilovic, H.A. Alkhatib J.A, Duerre, M. Cooley, W.M. Long, R.T Harris and G.I. Lykken. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders. (2)15 (2001) 106. Reported the presence of radon progeny in diseased AD and PD brain tissues.

"Natural distribution of environmental radon daughters in the different brain areas of an Alzheimer Disease victim," B. Momcilovic, G.I. Lykken and M. Cooley. Molecular Neurodegeneration, 1 (2006) B. Momcilovic, G.I. Lykken and M. Cooley. Molecular Neurodegeneration, 1:11 (2006). Reported excessive radon progeny, Bi-210 and Po210, in different brain areas in an AD victim.

"Seasonality of 214Bi Activity in the Human Body and of 222Rn Concentration in Home Ambient Air," B. Momcilovic and G.I. Lykken. Health Phys, 92 (2007) 484. Reported that seasonal radon concentration in the ambient air and the background of a whole body counter steel room is reflected in the radon progeny (Bi-210) in humans.

"Environmental radon daughters reveal pathognomonic changes in the brain proteins and lipids in patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease, and Cigarette smokers," B. Momcilovic, H.A. Alkhatib J.A, Duerre, M. Cooley, W.M. Long, R.T Harris and G.I. Lykken. Arch.hig. rada toksikol. (Arch. Occup.Hlth. Toxicol.), 50(1999) 347. Reported the concentrations of Pb-210, Bi-210 and Po-210 in brain lipids and brain proteins in victims of PD and AD, respectively as well as in smokers.

Comment on The Capstone Depleted Uranium (DU) Aerosol Characterization and Risk Assessment Study G.I. Lykken, , and B. Momcilovic Health Physics in press. Suggested that particles <1 µm should be considered.

Other Interests

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