Environmental analysis

This is the fifteenth annual review published in JAAS of the application of atomic spectroscopy to the chemical analysis of environmental samples. Ove r the period there have been no major breakthroughs in atomic spectrometry, but environmental scientists are discovering the wine variety of applicati ons that can he addressed with current analytical instrumentation. In parti cular, the low detection limits and isotopic measurement capabilities of IC P-MS ave being widely exploited. There is continued emphasis on the need for improvements in analytical data quality in all areas. The need for and production of reference materials, ranging from air filters to the most challenging production of RMs for meta l speciation, are widely discussed. There is also increased reporting of th e results of interlaboratory collaboration trials, especially in the area o f air analysis where this type of study has, in the past, lagged behind oth er environmental analyses. Despite the ever decreasing trend in instrument detection limits much effor t continues to be expended in the development of preconcentration methodolo gies, many of which involve traditional complexation chemistries on solid p hase extraction supports. Pre-instrument chemistries are also the subject o f many studies in the area of speciation, which often combine a complexatio n and/or species separation step prior to atomic spectrometric quantitation . For solids analysis through the dissolution route, there continues to be mu ch re-working of a variety after permutations and combinations of digestion methodologies using different acids mixtures under varying heating and pre ssure regimes. The advantage of by-passing the vagaries of the dissolution step by direct analysis of solids continues to fuel some very fertile resea rch using laser ablation sample introduction, while XRF methods continue to be used widely.