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.