Inorganic Elements and Radioisotopes in the Environment: Measurement Techniques and Applications

Abstract

In this review paper, modern nuclear techniques are discussed for the analysis of inorganic elements or tracers, including radioactive species in the environment. Nuclear techniques allow many trace elements to be analyzed in parts per 106 to parts per 109 range in both field and laboratory measurements. For laboratory and insitu field measurements, techniques of X-ray fluorescence (XRF), particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE), neutron activation analysis (NAA) and radionuclide detection using NaI(Tl) spectrometer, Ge(Li), Si(Li), silicon drift detector (SDD) spectrometer and HPGe spectrometer are discussed. The paper also includes some of the studies carried out using these techniques in various parts of the world. These studies are important not only from the environmental contamination point of view, but also for various other applications.