Monitoring and evolution of highly lead polluted coastal environments: A case study in San Simón Bay (NW Spain)

San Simón Bay (inner Ría de Vigo, NW Spain) is a well-known polluted area because of its high Pb concentrations caused by waste discharges from a ceramic factory. The present study is focused on the historical and diagenetic monitoring of Pb pollution in this Bay based on sediment and pore water analyses of two cores collected in October 2010 adjacent to the factory using different techniques. A chronological framework was constructed based on 137Cs and 210Pb dating. Lead stable isotope ratios confirmed that the ceramic factory is still the main Pb source despite its closing in 2001. The historical monitoring of Pb pollution included ItraxTM Core Scanner (Itrax) analyses on the sedimentary record and the comparison with previous geochemical studies. The location of Pb maxima values in the cores allowed the estimation of sedimentation rates which were similar to those calculated from radionuclide dating. Moreover, Itrax analyses supported the results of the other techniques, but providing results with a higher resolution, and providing information about variations in cores composition that could affect radionuclide activities. The short-time interval required for obtaining the Itrax results and the high-resolution of the data, among other applications of this scanner, confirmed its importance as a complementary tool for Environmental coastal management.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España) Ref. IPT-310000-2010-17 (INNODRAVAL)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España) Ref. GCL2010-16688Xunta de Galicia Ref. 10MMA312022PR

2015 Atomic Spectrometry Update – a review of advances in X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and their applications

This review describes advances in the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) group of techniques published approximately between April 2014 and March 2015 and is therefore restricted to a selection of papers featuring developments in the XRF armoury. An active topic during this review period was that of imaging techniques and, more particularly of micro XRF spectrometry. Silicon-based semiconductor X-ray detectors such as SDD and Si(PIN) continue to reflect the maturity and widespread routine use of such devices. The significant expansion in studies evaluating the field use of portable XRF instrumentation in geological applications, often still proving the quality of the data, rather than adopting the technique in routine applications. New synchrotron beamlines offer previously unavailable spatial resolution and throughput for the characterisation of advanced energy materials and devices under varying temperatures and gas atmospheres. Nanomaterials feature extensively this year such as the use of nanoparticles in cancer imaging and therapy. Synchrotron radiation has become a preferred technique for the analysis of a wide range of archeological samples, artwork, museum specimens and environmental studies. There has been a substantial rise in the number of Chinese researchers investigating objects of cultural heritage, especially porcelain, glazes and glass. Advances in TXRF and related techniques continue to feature with studies on thin films and nanomaterials. Feedback on this review is most welcome and the review coordinator can be contacted using the email address provided