Radu, Tanya and Gallagher, Simon and Byrne, Brian and Harris, Paul and Coveney, Seamus and McCarron, Stephen and 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
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:	https://doi.org/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
URI:	Publisher
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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