Identification and Characterization of Arsenic and Metal Compounds in Contaminated Soil, Mine Tailings, and House Dust Using Synchrotron-Based Microanalysis

A comprehensive understanding of the risk associated with metal-rich soils and other materials includes identification of the solid phases hosting the metals. Synchrotron microanalysis provides a powerful diagnostic tool to characterize metal-bearing particles in mine tailings, soils, lake sediments...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human and ecological risk assessment 2011-01, Vol.17 (6), p.1292-1309
Main Authors: Jamieson, Heather E, Walker, Stephen R, Andrade, Claudio F, Wrye, Lori A, Rasmussen, Pat E, Lanzirotti, Antonio, Parsons, Michael B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
absorption
Arsenic
chemical analysis
crystal structure
Diffraction
Dust
ecosystems
fluorescence
grains
Health risk assessment
Households
Human
humans
lakes
metal-bearing particles
Metals
mine tailings
mineral identification
minerals
Mines
organic soils
oxidation
polluted soils
Risk
sediments
Soil (material)
Soil contamination
synchrotron microanalysis
Tailings
X-radiation
X-ray diffraction
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Summary:A comprehensive understanding of the risk associated with metal-rich soils and other materials includes identification of the solid phases hosting the metals. Synchrotron microanalysis provides a powerful diagnostic tool to characterize metal-bearing particles in mine tailings, soils, lake sediments, windblown dust, and household dust. A near simultaneous combination of X-ray fluorescence, diffraction, and absorption experiments using a microfocused beam can provide information on elemental concentrations, crystal structure, and oxidation state of individual particles. This approach can distinguish multiple metal-hosting minerals and industrial compounds in a single sample. Our objective is to provide examples of the application of this technique to a range of materials representing potential risk to human or ecosystem health. These examples include arsenic-contaminated materials and metal-rich household dust. We have identified grains of scorodite and other arsenate minerals in mine tailings and associated airborne dust, arsenic trioxide in organic soils near an ore roaster, metallurgical products dispersed to the environment, and various metal-rich particles in household dust. A comparison of chemical analysis of individual particles using electron microprobe analysis and synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence analysis is provided.
ISSN:1549-7860
1080-7039
1549-7860
DOI:10.1080/10807039.2011.618415