Use of atorption sepectrometry for the determination of metals in sediments in south-west Louisiana

摘要

The realtively recnet introduction of atomic absroption spectrometry has produced a rapid and relatively inexpensive mehtod for the determinationof metal concentrations in a wide variety of samples.One such application is in the determination of metal concentrations in soils and sediments.Soils and sediments represent concentrated reservoirs for these methals that serve as sinks fo rintroduced trace metals or can become environmental sources.The coastal zone of Louisiana provides a 'living laboratogy'to investigate the mechanisms of transport,deposition,andsissolutionof Louisiana provides a 'living laroratory'to investigate the mechanisms of transport,deposition, and dissolution of trace metals into this fragile environment.Investigations done in the coastal zone have found trace metals tend to concentrate near pollution inputs and sources and have not migratedto or significantly impacted the coastalzone ofLouisiana.Comon trace metals determined and their range of concentrations in coastalsoil and sedimnets are chromium(10-30 ppm),copper(10-25 ppm),iron (0.6-2.1%),manganese (200-600 ppm),nickel (6-20 ppm),lead (8-20 ppm),andzinc(30-55 ppm).