Abstract
Laser-ablation sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been used for the in situ determination of concentrations and isotope compositions of Pb in an environmental sample in a form of layered paint chip. This study examines feasibility of using the powerful method of isotope ratio analysis in laser ablation sector ICP-MS as a routine and rapid, but very reliable, analytical instrument for fingerprinting sources of lead in environmental forensic investigations. Significant lead concentrations were found in four of the six layers of a paint chip sample. The layers were analyzed for isotopes of lead (i.e., 204Pb, 206Pb, 207Pb, 208Pb) and two isotopes of mercury (i.e., 202Hg and 204Hg). In this study, Hg isotopes were measured for the purpose of interference correction for 204Pb isotope. Elemental data were obtained by ablation with Nd:YAG laser operating in the UV region (wavelength of 213 nm) manufactured by New Wave-Merchantek and isotopic analysis with a Finnigan MAT sector ICP-MS. A multielement reference glass standard (NIST-612) was also analyzed for the same isotopes and gave stable and flat response for all isotopes of lead. Four of the paint layers (C, D, E, F) contained significant amounts of lead and were used for isotope ratio measurements. An appreciable amount of Hg was found only in layer C. For layers D, E, and F, which had copious amount of Pb, the standard deviations for isotope ratios were: 0.492–1.347 for 206Pb/204Pb, 0.494–1.653 for 207Pb/204Pb, and 1.214–3.643 for 208Pb/204Pb. The lead isotope ratios for the layer with the highest Pb concentration, layer F, had a radiogenic signature similar to that of Mississippi Valley-type Pb-Zn mines in eastern Missouri. The lead isotope ratios of layer E are less radiogenic and had a signature similar to that of Pb-Zn-Ag mines of Sierra Madre in east central Mexico. The lead isotope ratio of the third layer, layer D, had a nonradiogenic signature.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
