Determination of rare earth elements in sediment cores from Northern Saronikos Gulf, Greece, by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Abstract

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) has been applied for the determination of 8 rare earth elements (REE) in sediment cores collected from stations of polluted and unpolluted areas of Northern Saronikos Gulf. The REE determined in cores are: La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Yb and Lu. Higher levels of all REE were found in the cores from polluted areas of N. Saronikos Gulf as compared with those from unpolluted areas. Different vertical profiles of REE were found in the cores from two stations of polluted areas which indicate that REE may distinguish pollution sources.