Radu, Tanya, Gallagher, Simon, Byrne, Brian, Harris, Paul, Coveney, Seamus, McCarron, Stephen, McCarthy, Tim and Diamond, Dermot (2013) Portable X-Ray Fluorescence as a Rapid Technique for Surveying Elemental Distributions in Soil. Spectroscopy Letters, 46 (7). pp. 516-526. ISSN 0038-7010
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Abstract
Case studies from two sites demonstrate how concentration
distributions of hazardous contaminants can be rapidly measured and visualized
using portable XRF (X-ray fluorescence) coupled with geostatistical
interpolation tools. In this study, lead is used as an exemplar due to its
well-known detrimental effect on human health through long-term
exposure. A portable Thermo Scientific NITON X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
instrument was used for real-time in-situ concentration measurements,
which were linked to GPS coordinates of the sampling locations. A 52 point
mixed sampling density survey was performed at a site near Maynooth, Co.
Kildare, and a second 58 survey undertaken at Dublin City University
(DCU). At Maynooth, high concentrations of Pb (above 110mg=kg) were
found close to the site where a local canal meets a road. At the DCU site,
results indicate high Pb concentrations (above 160mg=kg) near a busy main
road. Geostatistical techniques were used to generate concentration prediction
and critical threshold contour surfaces for both sites. Linked with GPS
coordinates for each sampling location, this technology enables the distribution
of multiple elements to be mapped over wide areas in a relatively
short time.
Item Type: | Article |
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Keywords: | heavy metals; soil pollution; XRF; |
Academic Unit: | Faculty of Science and Engineering > Research Institutes > National Centre for Geocomputation, NCG Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Institutes > Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units, ICARUS |
Item ID: | 8088 |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/00387010.2013.763829 |
Depositing User: | Tim McCarthy |
Date Deposited: | 28 Mar 2017 15:37 |
Journal or Publication Title: | Spectroscopy Letters |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
Refereed: | Yes |
Related URLs: | |
URI: | https://mu.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/8088 |
Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
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