Sampling Uncertainty and Environmental Variability for Trace Elements on the Meuse River, France

Author(s):  
Anne Strugeon-Dercourt
2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabina Dołęgowska ◽  
Zdzisław M. Migaszewski

Estimates of the distribution, migration, and accumulation of trace elements using mosses as bioindicators have successfully been used in biomonitoring studies since at least the 1970s. Chemical analysis of moss samples is also an important tool for assessing concentrations of elements in analyzed material at a given time. To achieve satisfactory accuracy in environmental studies, the best sampling approach must be used. Methods for the estimation of uncertainty derived from analytical procedures are well recognized, but the errors generated as a result of sampling are very often overlooked. Sampling uncertainty can be managed by a judicious selection of the sampling method, the amount of samples collected, and by following appropriate type of sampling protocols. The sampling protocol generally contains information about location of sampling sites, time of sampling (e.g., season), the species collected, type of sample (single, sub-sample), and monitored parameters (e.g., climate, analyzed substances). Information about seasonal variability; topographic, climatic, edaphic, and hydrologic conditions (type and amount of precipitation, rosewind); age; and part of plant that was collected is often ignored. There is no precise information on how these factors affect the sampling step and overall uncertainty over what procedures must be followed to reduce errors derived from plant sampling. This information is necessary when long-range and comparative studies are conducted. In this paper, we review how individual factors, such as (i) type of sampling strategy, (ii) representative sampling, (iii) seasonal variability, and (iv) which part of the plant is collected, may influence the concentration of trace elements in moss tissues and the level of uncertainty associated with sampling. In addition, we also discuss plant sample preparation techniques and how this may cause an uncontrolled element loss.


Author(s):  
O.T. Woo ◽  
G.J.C. Carpenter

To study the influence of trace elements on the corrosion and hydrogen ingress in Zr-2.5 Nb pressure tube material, buttons of this alloy containing up to 0.83 at% Fe were made by arc-melting. The buttons were then annealed at 973 K for three days, furnace cooled, followed by ≈80% cold-rolling. The microstructure of cold-worked Zr-2.5 at% Nb-0.83 at% Fe (Fig. 1) contained both β-Zr and intermetallic precipitates in the α-Zr grains. The particles were 0.1 to 0.7 μm in size, with shapes ranging from spherical to ellipsoidal and often contained faults. β-Zr appeared either roughly spherical or as irregular elongated patches, often extending to several micrometres.The composition of the intermetallic particles seen in Fig. 1 was determined using Van Cappellen’s extrapolation technique for energy dispersive X-ray analysis of thin metal foils. The method was employed to avoid corrections for absorption and fluorescence via the Cliff-Lorimer equation: CA/CB = kAB · IA/IB, where CA and CB are the concentrations by weight of the elements A and B, and IA and IB are the X-ray intensities; kAB is a proportionality factor.


Author(s):  
D. A. Carpenter ◽  
Ning Gao ◽  
G. J. Havrilla

A monolithic, polycapillary, x-ray optic was adapted to a laboratory-based x-ray microprobe to evaluate the potential of the optic for x-ray micro fluorescence analysis. The polycapillary was capable of collecting x-rays over a 6 degree angle from a point source and focusing them to a spot approximately 40 µm diameter. The high intensities expected from this capillary should be useful for determining and mapping minor to trace elements in materials. Fig. 1 shows a sketch of the capillary with important dimensions.The microprobe had previously been used with straight and with tapered monocapillaries. Alignment of the monocapillaries with the focal spot was accomplished by electromagnetically scanning the focal spot over the beveled anode. With the polycapillary it was also necessary to manually adjust the distance between the focal spot and the polycapillary.The focal distance and focal spot diameter of the polycapillary were determined from a series of edge scans.


1979 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 1330-1331
Author(s):  
E. D. WILLS

2004 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 247-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lombardi-Boccia ◽  
Lanzi ◽  
Lucarini ◽  
Di Lullo

This study was undertaken to estimate the contribution of meat and meat products consumption to the daily intakes of trace elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Se), heme iron, and selected B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin) in Italy. Meat and meat products were selected on the basis of their consumption frequency reported by the most recent nationwide dietary individual survey carried out in Italy (INN-CA study). The daily intakes of total iron and heme iron were 1.65 and 1.13 mg/person/day. Zinc intake was 3.65 mg/person/day. Beef made the main contribution to iron, heme iron, and zinc daily intakes. Copper daily intake was 107.3 mug/person/day, with meat products provided the highest contribution (40 mug/person/day). Daily intake of selenium (7.14 mug/person/day) was provided mainly by poultry consumption. Thiamine intake was 228 mug/person/day, and meat products were the main source (110 mug/person/day). Riboflavin intake was 136 mug/person/day, with both beef and meat products as the main contributors (40 mug/person/day). Niacin intake was 7.53 mg/person/day, and poultry was the main source (2.28 mg/person/day). Meat and meat products were a valuable source of micronutrients, supplying 47, 48, and 24% of zinc, niacin, and thiamin daily requirements, respectively, and over 10% of iron, copper, selenium, and riboflavin daily average requirement values of the italian RDAs calculated for the population involved in the survey (INN-CA study).


2003 ◽  
Vol 107 ◽  
pp. 945-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Nicolaysen ◽  
E. Steinnes ◽  
T. E. Sjobakk

1963 ◽  
Vol 03 (02) ◽  
pp. 175-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Bergman ◽  
Rune Söremark

SummaryBy means of neutron activation and gamma-ray spectrometry the concentrations in the human mandibular articular disc of the following elements have been determined: Na, Mn, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Cd, W, and Au. The discs were obtained at necropsy from seven men and nine women, ranging in age from 56 to 71 years.The activation was carried out in a thermal neutron flux of about 1.7 XlO12 neutrons × cm−2 × sec.−1 for about 20 hours. A chemical group separationwas performed before the gamma-ray spectrometry. Quantitative data based on the dry weight of the cartilage samples were obtained by comparing the photo-peak area of the identified elements with those of appropriate standards.


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