Determination of Se, Cd, and Hg in an aquatic environment of Bombay by substoichiometric neutron activation analysis

Abstract

The toxicity of Se, Cd, and Hg as environmental pollutants and the impact of these elements on the aquatic ecosystem is undisputed. The present paper reports an investigation of the concentration of Cd, Se, and Hg in an aquatic environment of a large metropolitan city like Bombay. As the toxicity of these elements manifests itself at micro and submicro levels, the very sensitive technique of neutron activation analysis was employed. A sequential substoichiometric extraction technique for the separation of radiochemically pure203Hg,75Se, and115–115mCd from the neutron irradiated target has also been employed.