Atomic spectrometry update. Environmental analysis

This is the sixteenth annual review published in JAAS of the application of atomic spectroscopy to the chemical analysis of environmental samples. In line with last year's review there have been no major breakthroughs in atomic spectrometry. Developments in environmental analysis have mainly been confined to improvements of existing techniques to produce more reliable and robust analytical methods. Developments in ICP-MS applications for environmental analysis have been the most active area of research where its low detection limits and isotopic measurement capabilities have again been widely exploited. In the analysis of air, the most promising advances are in the area of continuous emission monitoring and portable XRF instrumentation. Water analysis continues to be dominated by pre-instrument chemistries studies for preconcentration and speciation. The variety of metal and non-metal species being studied has significantly increased this year. The need for risk assessments of brown field sites has raised the profile of methods to determine the chemical form and bioavailability of metals in contaminated soils. In geological analysis, aided by the improved stability of modern instruments and the wider availability of high resolution spectrometers, isotope ratio determinations by ICP-MS are becoming increasingly important. Over all areas of environmental analysis there has been a small but significant increase in the use of chemometric methods to aid data interpretation and reduce interference effects.