Relative Response of Biological and Non-Biological Monitors in a Coastal Environment

A field study was carried out in the spring and summer of 2003 (2 months each), to assess the efficiency of alternative exposure modes of biological monitors – lichen biomass and tree-bark biomass – together with prospective, non-biological monitors – cellulose acetate and Chelex-100 resin – versus conventional transplants of the same species. After exposure to the marine atmosphere of Sines (SW Portugal), saline elements (Cl, Na, K, Mg) contents were determined in all samples by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Manganese was used as the crustal reference for data normalisation. As a whole, the results pointed to a consistent elemental accumulation regardless of the season (spring, summer), and to some fair reproducibility of data. There were good correlations between Cl and Na in terms of both raw and normalised data, for either the biomonitors or the cellulose acetate. Elemental ratios generally agreed with the average relative composition of bulk seawater. The degree of association between Cl and Na appeared rather unaffected by the normalisation procedure, which suggests that (i) both elements most likely had an almost exclusive marine origin; and (ii) accounting for crustal inputs via Mn did not bias the results. Other sources than the sea-spray might contribute to the Mg levels, though, as only Mn-normalised data showed intrinsic (correlation) and extrinsic (ratio) consistency. The performance of the Chelex-100 resin was rather disappointing when compared to the other monitors.     

Neutron Activation Analysis, Atomic Absorption and X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry Review for 2003

This review for the year 2003 deals with three relatively well-established, mature, analytical techniques (neutron activation analysis, atomic absorption spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry) that nevertheless remain very important for the characterisation of geological and environmental samples. Developments in neutron activation analysis included modification to the technique in relation to the determination of platinum-group elements, as well as consideration of sample size in ore grade estimation. A considerable body of literature was published on the application of atomic absorption spectrometry in the analysis of environmental samples. Many of these proposed technical and methodological improvements, notably in extraction procedures. X-ray fluorescence spectrometry saw developments in in situ analysis, synchrotron micro-XRF (μ-SRXRF) and a confocal X-ray set-up for 3D elemental imaging. XRF technologies were used in the analysis of geological samples, reference materials, glasses, solutes and environmental materials.     

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis of Estuarine Sediment as a Proposed Reference Material for Environmental Studies

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Marine Environmental Studies Laboratory (MEL) organised an intercomparison exercise, through its Analytical Quality Control Services (AQCS), for the determination of trace elements in estuarine sediment IAEA-405, well suited for the characterisation of sediments. The instrumental neutron activation analysis technique (INAA) was developed using a 27 kW low power research reactor. Forty elements in the sediment were determined with a measurement precision varying from 1.8% to 12.3%. IAEA reference materials SL-1 and SD-M-2/TM were analysed throughout this work as quality assurance samples.     

顽辉石陨石中A,B矿的微量元素化学意义

运用电子探针和中子活化分析方法测定了清镇和Ｂｕｓｔｅｅ顽辉石无球粒陨石中含铬硫化物相的组成和微量元素含量。正如早期的报告结果，电子探针分析结果不足１００％，表明有相当含量的轻元素（ｚ〈１０）存在。     

Native Trees as Biomonitors of Chemical Elements in the Biodiversity Conservation of the Atlantic Forest

The Atlantic Forest, a hotspot in the world with a great diversity of plants and animals, is located in the most industrialized area of Brazil, a potential source of chemical elements for the atmosphere. From its original area about 10% has been preserved mainly through the implementation of conservation units, among which the Parque Estadual Carlos Botelho (PECB) is one of the most representative. Here, leaves of the predominant species in the PECB were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) for the establishment of natural backgrounds of As, Ba, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cs, Fe, Hg, K, Na, Rb, Sc, Se, Sr and Zn. Biomonitoring of the Atlantic Forest was realized through the tree community study taking in account the interspecies and the intraspecies variability of chemical concentrations. Results pointed out the low status of pollution based on the concentrations of chemical elements of environmental concerning. However, Br concentrations were higher in the understory species, which could be related to the possible effects of atmospheric pollution or sea influence. In addition, some Hyeronima alchorneoides trees showed to be hyperaccumulators of Co.     

天然冲击球粒陨石的化学组成及冲击效应

本文运用电子探针、ＩＮＡＡ方法研究了两块强烈冲击的中国普通球粒陨石的矿物组成、化学组成、冲击熔融相，非溶融相和磁性金属相微量元素丰度，结合稀有气体含量和母体冲击特征，讨论了它们的冲击效应和母体热历史，证明了母体热变质作用叠加了冲击效应，冲击效应增加了陨石矿物组成平衡程度，提高了母体的岩石类型，但冲击热效应对陨石中非气体挥发性元素含量及化学组成没有明显的影响，说明冲击热效应对陨石中非气体挥发性元素含     

Determination of Rare Earth Elements in Geological Reference Materials: A Comparative Study by INAA and ICP-MS

Data was obtained for the rare earth elements (REE) by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in twenty geological reference materials. In general, the precision obtained by ICP-MS is better for the light REE, decreasing with increasing atomic number. This is partly a result of the occurrence of the heavy REE at low concentrations. The precision of the data obtained by INAA is good (5% RSD). The data obtained also showed that for the elements determined by both methods, the accuracy is similar for the light REE and better for the middle and heavy REEs by INAA. Higher uncertainty is achieved by ICP-MS mainly for elements at very low concentrations, occurring at about ten times the chondritic values.     

多伦盆地侏罗系上统角砾碎屑玻璃岩的成因探讨

本文对多伦盆地独石口和青羊沟角砾碎屑玻璃岩及其中微球粒进行了中子活化分析，其微量元素丰度和分布表明，侏罗系上统角砾碎屑玻璃岩及微球粒没有任何撞击形成标志，而更多的是火山喷发标志。因此，多伦盆地不是撞击形成，而与晚侏罗系上统火山喷发有关。     

内蒙古阿尔山地区新生代玄武岩及其幔源包体微量元素组成特征

内蒙古阿尔山地区新生代火山活动频繁,喷发期次可划分为上新世、更新世、全新世,最新喷发时间约为1 900 a B P,具有再次喷发的可能。为了探讨活火山源区地幔流体的分布特征,利用中子活化分析和同步辐射X射线荧光微探针分析技术,对阿尔山地区全新世玄武岩及其幔源包体的稀土、微量元素组成特征、地幔包体矿物及其熔融包裹体的微量元素组成特征进行了分析。中子活化分析结果表明,不同产地玄武岩具有相同的稀土配分模式,其中,Σ8REE=96.93~114.94,Eu/Sm=0.32~0.37,(L a/Lu)N=8.89~12.52;不相容元素蛛网曲线整体右倾,B a,T a,Sm具正异常,T h,Z r具负异常,没有明显的S r异常,说明岩浆上升过程中很少演化和分离结晶;不同产地地幔岩包体中不含包裹体的同类矿物的REE组成相近,反映了不同活火山的地幔源区REE组成特征相同;不同产地地幔岩包体同类矿物及其内部包裹体同步辐射X射线荧光微探针分析表明具有相同的微量元素曲线分布形态;这些特征说明阿尔山活火山群分布区地幔流体不存在显著的不均一性。     

双壳类指示生物反映下的胶州湾生态环境的研究

于１９９６年１１月和１９９７年１１月,在胶州湾不同污染地点采集双壳类生物样品,采用中子活化技术,等离子体耦合原子发射谱法,原子荧光谱法对样口体内的３４种元素的组成进行了测定研究。结果表明,蛤仔对大多数元素的富集作用最强,是胶州湾典型的指示生物;双埠蛤仔体内的Ａｓ和Ｃdisplay status