Atomic spectrometry update : environmental analysis

This is the twenty-second annual review published in JAAS of the application of atomic spectrometry to the chemical analysis of environmental samples. In the analysis of air, there is ongoing use of XRF techniques for the measurement of particles collected on filters. There is continuing interest in the determination of trace levels of mercury species in the atmosphere. Isotope ratio measurement protocols are attracting wider interest as a potential tool for source apportionment studies. In the analysis of plant and water matrices, elemental speciation protocols for elements such as As, Hg, Sb, Se and Sn continue to receive considerable attention. Portable XRF instruments are now attracting interest for the rapid analysis of contaminated soil. In the geochemical measurement arena, laser ablation continues to go from strength to strength in being adopted as a solid sampling tool and interest is expanding to its use for the in situ determination of isotope ratios. To support this technique, a number of institutes are now preparing the next generation of CRM standards that are being characterized at the required micrometre scale.