Distribution of heavy metals in sediments of the Gulf of Riga, Baltic Sea.

A large number of sediment samples (totally 138) were studied in 1991–1996 to clarify the role of sediments as a sink of heavy metals in the Gulf of Riga. The samples were analysed for total content of carbon, organic carbon, cadmium, lead, copper, zinc and mercury. Certain additional elements such as aluminium, lithium, iron, manganese, chromium, nickel, titanium and vanadium were also measured from some of the samples from the accumulation areas to enable combination with corresponding data from other parts of the Baltic Sea. The non-mineralogical portion of the heavy metals of some samples was estimated with nitric acid leaching. Heavy metal data for mean concentrations are shown separated into accumulation and non-deposition areas for 1, 2 and 5 cm sample intervals. Spatial distribution patterns are shown for the topmost 5 cm samples. The highest concentrations of metals are mainly found in the mud accumulation areas and in some specific cases, such as cadmium, in the near-shore areas. Lead, copper and zinc show a more widespread distribution over the whole Gulf. For copper and cadmium the presented vertical distributions of selected profiles show decreased accumulation trends during the past 30 years, while for other elements no similar pattern is identified. Comparisons with the Gulf of Bothnia and Gulf of Finland show that total concentrations of lead, copper and zinc are lower in the Gulf of Riga and cadmium and mercury are in the same range as those in the Gulf of Bothnia and Gulf of Finland

FOREGS geochemical baseline mapping programme - a new European wide database and geochemical atlas.

Proceedings, Bologn

Radon in air and water

Radon is a natural radioactive gas that you cannot see, smell, or taste and that can only be detected with special equipment. It is produced by the radioactive decay of radium, which in turn is derived from the radioactive decay of uranium. Uranium is found in small quantities in all soils and rocks, although the amount varies from place to place. Radon decays to form radioactive particles that can enter the body by inhalation. Inhalation of the short-lived decay products of radon has been linked to an increase in the risk of developing cancers of the respiratory tract, especially of the lungs. Breathing radon in the indoor air of homes contributes to about 15,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States and 1,100 in the UK (HPA 2009). Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths

U-Th signatures of agricultural soil at the European continental scale (GEMAS): Distribution, weathering patterns and processes controlling their concentrations

Agricultural soil (Ap-horizon, 0–20 cm) samples were collected in Europe (33 countries, 5.6 million km2) as part of the GEMAS (GEochemical Mapping of Agricultural and grazing land Soil) soil-mapping project. The GEMAS survey area includes diverse groups of soil parent materials with varying geological history, a wide range of climate zones, and landscapes. The soil data have been used to provide a general view of U and Th mobility at the continental scale, using aqua regia and MMI® extractions. The U-Th distribution pattern is closely related to the compositional variation of the geological bedrock on which the soil is developed and human impact on the environment has not concealed these genuine geochemical features. Results from both extraction methods (aqua regia and MMI®) used in this study support this general picture. Ternary plots of several soil parameters have been used to evaluate chemical weathering trends. In the aqua regia extraction, some relative Th enrichment-U loss is related to the influence of alkaline and schist bedrocks, due to weathering processes. Whereas U enrichment-Th loss characterizes soils developed on alkaline and mafic bedrock end-members on one hand and calcareous rock, with a concomitant Sc depletion (used as proxy for mafic lithologies), on the other hand. This reflects weathering processes sensu latu, and their role in U retention in related soils. Contrary to that, the large U enrichment relative to Th in the MMI® extraction and the absence of end-member parent material influence explaining the enrichment indicates that lithology is not the cause of such enrichment. Comparison of U and Th to the soil geological parent material evidenced i) higher capability of U to be weathered in soils and higher resistance of Th to weathering processes and its enrichment in soils; and, ii) the MMI® extraction results show a greater affinity of U than Th for the bearing phases like clays and organic matter. The comparison of geological units with U anomalies in agricultural soil at the country scale (France) enables better understanding of U sources in the surficial environment and can be a useful tool in risk assessments

EuroGeoSurveys geochemical mapping of agricultural and grazing land soil of Europe (GEMAS). Field manual.

REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals), the new European Chemicals Regulation was adopted in December 2006. It came into force on the 1st June 2007. REACH, as well as the pending EU Soil Protection Directive, require additional knowledge about "soil quality" at the European scale. The GEMAS (geochemical mapping of agricultural soils and grazing land of Europe) project aims at providing harmonized geochemical data of arable land and land under permanent grass cover at the continental, European scale. Geological Surveys in 34 European countries, covering an area of 5.6 million km2, have agreed to sample their territory at a sample density of 1 site each, arable land (0-20 cm) and land under permanent grass cover (0-10 cm), per 2500 km2. Sampling will take place during 2008, following a jointly agreed field protocol which is presented in this report. All samples will be prepared in just one laboratory, a strict quality control procedure has been established and all samples will always be jointly analyzed in just one laboratory for any one chemical element/parameter

GEMAS: Indium in agricultural and grazing land soil of Europe - Its source and geochemical distribution patterns

Indium is a very rare element, which is usually not reported in geochemical data sets. It is classified as a critical metal, with important applications in the electronics industry, especially in the production of solar panels and liquid-crystal displays (LCDs).Over 4000 samples of agricultural and grazing land soil have been collected for the "Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural and Grazing Land Soil of Europe" (GEMAS) project, carried out by the EuroGeoSurveys Geochemistry Expert Group. Indium concentrations in soil have been analysed using aqua regia extraction followed by ICP-MS. Median values of In for both land use types are nearly identical, 0.0176. mg/kg for agricultural soil and 0.0177. mg/kg for grazing land soil.The spatial distribution patterns of In in European soil are mainly controlled by geology and the presence of Zn and Sn mineralisation. The preference of In to accumulate in the fine-grained fraction of soil with high clay content dominates the major anomaly patterns on the geochemical maps. In the Mediterranean region, secondary In enrichment is visible in karst areas. A notable feature of the In spatial distribution is the large difference between northern and southern Europe, with median values of 0.012 and 0.021. mg. In/kg, respectively, suggesting that, in addition to lithology, weathering and climate are important factors influencing In soil enrichment over time. \ua9 2015 Elsevier B.V