High resolution X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for water analysis of metals in East China Sea

High resolution X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for water analysis of metals in East China Sea

Within the last century, water pollution has become a major problem throughout the world. Aquatic systems are endangered by many different types of pollution but one of the most threatening is contamination by heavy metals, for example, Cd, etc. The presence of these metals is mainly due to industrial wastes or mining wastes being improperly treated and dumped into the water supply. The contamination may damage marine organisms or create changes in the aquatic environment. For these reasons, monitoring the concentrations of trace elements in rivers, coastal waters and open seawater is very important for environmental conservation. Like many countries in the world, China is facing the serious problem of water pollution in its aquatic system. Areas like the Yangtze River have been industrialized very quickly, and without proper waste control practices the pollution levels have increased with the economic growth. The Yangtze River covers thousands of square kilometers and crosses more than half of China before reaching the East China Sea.