Concentrations Of Specific Elements Research Articles

A 6-year review status on soil pollution in coal mining areas from Europe.

Coal is an essential component in achieving the goal of fulfilling the energy demands of the world. Nevertheless, the extensive practice of coal mining has resulted in environmental contamination through the release of both organic and inorganic pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic compounds and potentially toxic elements, into various mediums, notably soil. The escalating coal-mining activities across Europe have amplified the concentration of specific elements in the soil. Therefore, a thorough and meticulous assessment of these environmental impacts is imperative to furnish policymakers, industries, and communities with valuable insights, facilitating the formulation and adoption of effective mitigation strategies. Considering the results of studies from 2018 to 2023, this review thoroughly evaluates the current state of soil pollution in the coal mining areas of Europe, focusing on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and potentially toxic elements. By analyzing the acquired data, this study aims to evaluate the levels of contamination by these pollutants in soils. The findings reveal that low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons dominate the polycyclic aromatic compounds present, while potentially toxic elements including Zn, Pb, Mn, and Cr emerge as major contributors to soil contamination in coal mining areas from Europe.

Elemental and oxygen isotopic fractionation recorded in highly vaporized cosmic spherules from Widerøefjellet, Sør Rondane Mountains (East Antarctica)

AbstractUpon passage through Earth's atmosphere, micrometeorites undergo variable degrees of melting and evaporation. Among the various textural and chemical groups recognized among cosmic spherules, that is, melted micrometeorites, a subset of particles may indicate anomalously high degrees of vaporization based on their chemical and isotopic properties. Here, a selection of such refractory element‐enriched cosmic spherules from Widerøefjellet (Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica) is characterized for their petrographic features, major and trace element concentrations (N = 35), and oxygen isotopic compositions (N = 23). Following chemical classification, the highly vaporized particles can be assigned to either the “CAT‐like” or the “High Ca‐Al” cosmic spherule groups. However, through the combination of major and trace element concentrations and oxygen isotopic data, a larger diversity of processes and precursor materials are identified that lead to the final compositions of refractory element‐enriched particles. These include fragmentation, disproportional sampling of specific mineral constituents, differential melting, metal bead extraction, redox shifts, and evaporation. Based on specific element concentrations (e.g., Sc, Zr, Eu, Tm) and ratios (e.g., Fe/Mg, CaO + Al2O3/Sc + Y + Zr + Hf), and variations of O isotope compositions, “CAT‐like” and “High Ca‐Al” cosmic spherules likely represent a continuum between mineral endmembers from both primitive and differentiated parent bodies that experienced variable degrees of evaporation.

EDXRF and the relative presence of K, Ca, Fe and as in amyloidogenic tissues

Trace and minor elements play crucial roles in a variety of biological processes, including amyloid fibrils formation. Mechanisms include activation or inhibition of enzymatic reactions, competition between elements and metal proteins for binding positions, also changes to the permeability of cellular membranes. These may influence carcinogenic processes, with trace and minor element concentrations in normal and amyloid tissues potentially aiding in cancer diagnosis and etiology. With the analytical capability of the spectroscopic technique X-ray fluorescence (XRF), this can be used to detect and quantify the presence of elements in amyloid characterization, two of the trace elements known to be associated with amyloid fibrils. In present work, involving samples from a total of 22 subjects, samples of normal and amyloid-containing tissues of heart, kidney, thyroid, and other tissue organs were obtained, analyzed via energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). The elemental distribution of potassium (K), calcium (Ca), arsenic (As), and iron (Fe) was examined in both normal and amyloidogenic tissues using perpetual thin slices. In amyloidogenic tissues the levels of K, Ca, and Fe were found to be less than in corresponding normal tissues. Moreover, the presence of As was only observed in amyloidogenic samples; in a few cases in which there was an absence of As, amyloid samples were found to contain Fe. Analysis of arsenic in amyloid plaques has previously been difficult, often producing contradictory results. Using the present EDXRF facility we could distinguish between amyloidogenic and normal samples, with potential correlations in respect of the presence or concentration of specific elements.

Shell mineralogy and chemistry – Arctic bivalves in a global context

This study provided new data on shell mineralogy in 23 Arctic bivalve species. The majority of examined species had purely aragonitic shells. Furthermore, we measured concentrations of Al, Ba, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Sr and Zn in 542 shells representing 25 Arctic bivalve species. Species-related differences in concentrations of specific elements were significant and occurred regardless of locations and water depths. This observation implies the dominance of biological processes regulating elemental uptake into the skeleton over factors related to the variability of abiotic environmental conditions. Analysis of the present study and literature data revealed that the highest concentrations of metals were observed in bivalves collected in the temperate zone, with intermediate levels in the tropics and the lowest levels in polar regions. This trend was ascribed mainly to the presence of higher anthropogenic pressure at temperate latitudes being a potential source of human-mediated metal pollution.

The strengthening effects and mechanisms of alloying elements on interfaces for multiphase Ni-based superalloys: A first-principles study

The mechanical properties and thermal stability of multiphase Ni-based superalloys are highly determined by the interfaces between the strengthening precipitations and the matrix. In this work, the interface properties of the γ/γ′/γ″ system are investigated using the first-principles calculations, and the strengthening mechanisms of alloying elements (3 d, 4 d and 5 d transition-metals) on the γ/γ″ and γ′/γ″ coexisting interfaces have been evaluated systematically. It was found that the matching configuration of the Ni (Center) + X (termination) is thermodynamically the most stable interface structure. The multi-interfaces doping results demonstrate that W, Re, Mo, Ta, Tc preferably occupy Nb-cp position and Fe, Co, Os tend to substitute Ni-fc position. Among these, W and Re have most significant effect on improving the bonding strength of γ/γ″ and γ′/γ″ interfaces synergistically. The dependence of interfacial cohesion on the metal radius and the concentration of specific elements are discussed as well. The corresponding analysis of electronic structures reveals that the strengthening effect of alloying elements can be ascribed to the increased chemical bonding strength between the doping atom and the nearest-neighbor host atom. The results of this work can shed light on developing novel Ni-based superalloys combinedly strengthened by γ′ and γ″ phases.

Gas Emission Study of the Polyacrylonitrile-Based Continuous Pilot-Scale Carbon Fiber Manufacturing Process

Despite the many positive aspects of carbon fiber arising from its light-weighting potential, high cost and related environmental impact may inhibit even wider usage of the material in future. The need to incinerate gaseous emissions generated during manufacture significantly contributes to both eco-impact and cost, while information regarding these emissions on a production line scale is lacking due to the confidentiality behind commercial carbon fiber manufacturing. A detailed assessment of the evolved gases generated during carbon fiber production and the underlying mechanisms using a state-of-the-art production scale research facility and in situ Fourier transform infrared gas analysis is reported for the first time. A commercially available polyacrylonitrile precursor was converted into carbon fibers, analyzing the most significant exhaust gases from each production step. To identify and quantify the evolved gases during transformation from the precursor to carbon fibers, the evolution of the chemical composition and mass throughout the process was studied. The emissions of HCN, NH3, CO, and CH4 were analyzed and correlated with the changing elemental composition of the processed fibers. Changes in the concentration of specific elements in the fibers were shown to be mirrored by the composition of the gaseous emissions, and responsible chemical mechanisms were introduced.

Investigation of chocolate types on the content of selected metals and non-metals determined by ICP-OES analytical technique

ABSTRACT Chocolate, one of the most popular sweets in the world, is consumed by people of all ages. Available data point to significant increases in consumption and production. However, successful determination of elements in chocolate is still difficult because of the characteristics of the matrix which contains a high content of organic compounds, like hydrogenated vegetable oil, vegetable fats, solids from malt extract, salts, emulsifiers, etc., causing problems with appropriate decomposition or digestion of sample. In this study, chocolate samples were prepared according to two procedures: water bath and microwave-assisted mineralisation. The use of Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) allowed us to determine the elemental composition of dark, milk, and white chocolate bars available on the Polish market as well as a cacao sample (100% cocoa powder). The elements assessed were Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, S, Sr, and Zn. The obtained results were used to compare the effectiveness of sample pre-treatment methods and to assess the correlation between the concentrations of specific elements and type of chocolate by the application of chemometric and statistical tools. The research showed that levels of analysed macro- and microelements are directly connected with the type of chocolate, characterised by the variable contents of cocoa paste and added milk. Data for all samples after mineralisation shown that among macroelements P was the most abundant, followed by Mg, Ca, Na, K, and S. The major essential element with the highest level was Fe, followed by Zn and Cu. In the group of toxic metals the highest content was obtained for Ba, then Al and Sr, but none exceeded permissible values prepared by health benefit organisations.

Essential differences in the mineral status of free-ranging European bison Bison bonasus populations in Poland: The effect of the anthroposphere and lithosphere

Tracking the concentration of elements in the organs of endangered animal species can provide significant knowledge about environmental hazards and allows more targeted protective measures to be taken. In this paper the differences in concentrations of 27 elements in the livers of free-ranging European bison were studied. The ICP-OES method was applied to study the four main Polish populations, which live in lowland (Białowieska, Knyszyńska and Borecka forests) and mountain (Bieszczady) habitats. The study was based on a unique and relatively large amount of comparative material. It was found that European bison populations that live in different locations differ from each other in terms of the hepatic concentrations of 17 of the elements studied in this work. The mountain population in Bieszczady was most distinctive due to the higher concentrations of Ba, Ca, Cd, Se, and the lower concentrations of Mo and V (compared to the other populations). Additionally, even geographically close lowland populations sometimes have different hepatic concentrations of particular elements. The sex and age of individuals have a weak effect on mineral status. Although the lithosphere is the primary factor that affects the availability of elements for the European bison, the soil parameters and biosphere can significantly affect the availability of elements, e.g. by accumulation. It was also shown that the anthroposphere plays a role, but this is mainly through agriculture as feeding on arable fields significantly changes the mineral status of European bison. The need for further research, especially on Cd, Se and Cu, was indicated. It was concluded that toxic elements or deficiencies in essential elements in the populations of the studied species should be considered locally as this would allow better understanding of the health condition of individual populations.

X-ray-Based Spectroscopic Techniques for Characterization of Polymer Nanocomposite Materials at a Molecular Level.

This review provides detailed fundamental principles of X-ray-based characterization methods, i.e., X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure, and the development of different techniques based on the principles to gain deeper understandings of chemical structures in polymeric materials. Qualitative and quantitative analyses enable obtaining chemical compositions including the relative and absolute concentrations of specific elements and chemical bonds near the surface of or deep inside the material of interest. More importantly, these techniques help us to access the interface of a polymer and a solid material at a molecular level in a polymer nanocomposite. The collective interpretation of all this information leads us to a better understanding of why specific material properties can be modulated in composite geometry. Finally, we will highlight the impacts of the use of these spectroscopic methods in recent advances in polymer nanocomposite materials for various nano- and bio-applications.

Identification of Hatchery‐Reared Lake Sturgeon Using Natural Elemental Signatures and Elemental Marking of Fin Rays

AbstractStock enhancement programs often involve the introduction of hatchery‐reared fish into wild environments, with the goal of increasing the abundance of a particular stock. To measure the success of stocking efforts for depressed populations, hatchery‐reared individuals must be distinguishable from naturally spawned fish, potentially many years after release. Biological tags are attractive due to their ability to batch‐mark whole cohorts in a cost‐effective manner, with minimal disruption to hatchery procedures and reduced handling stress inflicted on individuals during the marking process. Elemental marking may occur naturally or via deliberate manipulation of the concentration of specific elements to create recognizable elemental signatures in the hard structures of fish (e.g., fin rays and otoliths). In this study, elemental signatures in the fin rays of known hatchery‐released Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens (ages 1–7) were quantified via laser ablation (LA) inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) to assess whether the ambient water chemistry in a groundwater‐fed hatchery would create an elemental signature that facilitated discrimination of hatchery‐reared individuals from those naturally spawned in the wild. The concentrations of divalent trace elements, particularly Mn, within the first growth band of hatchery‐reared fish were significantly different from those of wild conspecifics, allowing us to accurately classify hatchery‐ versus wild‐spawned individuals with 99% success. In addition, we conducted a preliminary experiment to test the validity of two separate 24‐h immersions in 86Sr and 137Ba (immersions were conducted 30 d apart) to induce multiple combination marks in the fin rays of juvenile Lake Sturgeon. Fin rays collected 60 d after the second immersion were analyzed for isotopic ratios via LA ICP‐MS, and results indicated that elemental marking at both time points was achieved with 100% success. Induction of a combination of isotopic signatures could enable hatcheries to track the success of families or stocking groups within a single year‐class or across multiple year‐classes.

Applicability of Fuel Indexes for Small-Scale Biomass Combustion Technologies, Part 2: TSP and NOx Emissions

Several studies pointed out that emission release is related to the concentration of particular elements in the fuel. Fuel indexes were developed to predict emissions of biomass combustion based on...

Pure and Highly Nb-Doped Titanium Dioxide Nanotubular Arrays: Characterization of Local Surface Properties.

This paper presents the results of studies of the local surface properties of pure and highly Nb-doped (12 wt %) TiO2 nanotubes (TNT) using the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods, respectively. XPS analysis showed that the pure TNT exhibit an evident over-stoichiometry combined with high level of undesired C contaminations, which was confirmed by the relative concentration of specific elements O, Ti and C (with respect to all the surface atoms) equal to 0.46, 018 and 0.36, respectively. In turn, for the highly Nb-doped (12 wt %) TNT, a slightly different surface chemistry was observed because the relative concentration of specific elements O and Ti and, with respect to all the surface atoms, is slightly lower, that is, 0.42 and 0.12, respectively; this is directly related to the fact that Nb atoms appeared having the relative concentration at the level of 0.09, whereas the undesired C contaminations reached the same level (0.36), as is the case of pure TNT. In addition, SEM analysis confirms that there are evident free spaces between the specific slops containing several TNT, what was additionally confirmed by the contribution of specific surface bonding coming from the SiO2/Si substrate. The obtained information allowed us a new insight on the potential origin of aging effect at the surface of TNT in atmosphere being the undesired limitation for their potential application as the chemical resistive type sensors or in any other fields of their application related to their surface activity.

In-Field, In Situ, and In Vivo 3-Dimensional Elemental Mapping for Plant Tissue and Soil Analysis Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.

Sensing and mapping element distributions in plant tissues and its growth environment has great significance for understanding the uptake, transport, and accumulation of nutrients and harmful elements in plants, as well as for understanding interactions between plants and the environment. In this study, we developed a 3-dimensional elemental mapping system based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy that can be deployed in- field to directly measure the distribution of multiple elements in living plants as well as in the soil. Mapping is performed by a fast scanning laser, which ablates a micro volume of a sample to form a plasma. The presence and concentration of specific elements are calculated using the atomic, ionic, and molecular spectral characteristics of the plasma emission spectra. Furthermore, we mapped the pesticide residues in maize leaves after spraying to demonstrate the capacity of this method for trace elemental mapping. We also used the system to quantitatively detect the element concentrations in soil, which can be used to further understand the element transport between plants and soil. We demonstrate that this method has great potential for elemental mapping in plant tissues and soil with the advantages of 3-dimensional and multi-elemental mapping, in situ and in vivo measurement, flexible use, and low cost.

Equine grass sickness in Scotland: A case-control study of environmental geochemical risk factors.

We hypothesised that the apparent geographical distribution of equine grass sickness (EGS) is partly attributable to suboptimal levels of soil macro- and trace elements in fields where EGS occurs. If proven, altering levels of particular elements could be used to reduce the risk of EGS. To determine whether the geographical distribution of EGS cases in eastern Scotland is associated with the presence or absence of particular environmental chemical elements. Retrospective time-matched case-control study. This study used data for 455 geo-referenced EGS cases and 910 time-matched controls in eastern Scotland, and geo-referenced environmental geochemical data from the British Geological Survey Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment stream sediment (G-BASE) and the James Hutton Institute, National Soil Inventory of Scotland (NSIS) datasets. Multivariable statistical analyses identified clusters of three main elements associated with cases from (i) the G-BASE dataset - higher environmental Ti and lower Zn, and (ii) the NSIS dataset - higher environmental Ti and lower Cr. There was also some evidence from univariable analyses for lower Al, Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb and higher Ca, K, Mo, Na and Se environmental concentrations being associated with a case. Results were complicated by a high degree of correlation between most geochemical elements. The work presented here would appear to reflect soil- not horse-level risk factors for EGS, but due to the complexity of the correlations between elements, further work is required to determine whether these associations reflect causality, and consequently whether interventions to alter concentrations of particular elements in soil, or in grazing horses, could potentially reduce the risk of EGS. The effect of chemical elements on the growth of those soil microorganisms implicated in EGS aetiology also warrants further study.

Influence of chemical disorder on energy dissipation and defect evolution in concentrated solid solution alloys.

A grand challenge in materials research is to understand complex electronic correlation and non-equilibrium atomic interactions, and how such intrinsic properties and dynamic processes affect energy transfer and defect evolution in irradiated materials. Here we report that chemical disorder, with an increasing number of principal elements and/or altered concentrations of specific elements, in single-phase concentrated solid solution alloys can lead to substantial reduction in electron mean free path and orders of magnitude decrease in electrical and thermal conductivity. The subsequently slow energy dissipation affects defect dynamics at the early stages, and consequentially may result in less deleterious defects. Suppressed damage accumulation with increasing chemical disorder from pure nickel to binary and to more complex quaternary solid solutions is observed. Understanding and controlling energy dissipation and defect dynamics by altering alloy complexity may pave the way for new design principles of radiation-tolerant structural alloys for energy applications.

Characterization Of Oxide Layers Produced On The AISI 321 Stainless Steel After Annealing

Abstract In this study, the structure, chemical composition and topography of oxide layers produced on the surface of the AISI 321 austenitic steel in the annealing process were analyzed. Heat treatment was done at 980°C temperature for 1 hour time in different conditions. The annealing was done in a ceramic furnace in oxidation atmosphere and in vacuum furnaces with cylindrical molybdenum and graphite chambers. The analysis was carried out using the following methods: a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), a transmission electron microscope (TEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX), an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), a secondary ion mass spectrometer with time-of-flight mass analyzer (TOF SIMS) and an atomic force microscope (AFM). The oxide layer formed during annealing of the AISI 321 steel at 980°C consisted of sub-layers, diversified in the chemical composition. The thickness of the oxidized layer is depended on the annealing conditions. In a ceramic furnace in oxidation atmosphere, the thickness of the oxide layer was of 300-500 nm, in a vacuum furnace with molybdenum and graphite heating chambers, it ranged from 40 to 300 nm and from a few to 50 nm, respectively. TOF SIMS method allows to get average (for the surface of 100 μm × 100 μm) depth profiles of concentration of particular elements and elements combined with oxygen. In oxide layers formed in vacuum furnaces there are no iron oxides. Titanium, apart from being bounded with carbon in carbides, is a component of the oxide layer formed on the surface of the AISI 321 steel.

Urinary stones as a novel matrix for human biomonitoring of toxic and essential elements.

Monitoring of body burden of toxic elements is usually based on analysis of concentration of particular elements in blood, urine and/or hair. Analysis of these matrices, however, predominantly reflects short- or medium-term exposure to trace elements or pollutants. In this work, urinary stones were investigated as a matrix for monitoring long-term exposure to toxic and essential elements. A total of 431 samples of urinary calculi were subjected to mineralogical and elemental analysis by infrared spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The effect of mineralogical composition of the stones and other parameters such as sex, age and geographical location on contents of trace and minor elements is presented. Our results demonstrate the applicability of such approach and confirm that the analysis of urinary calculi can be helpful in providing complementary information on human exposure to trace metals and their excretion. Analysis of whewellite stones (calcium oxalate monohydrate) with content of phosphorus <0.6% has been proved to be a promising tool for biomonitoring of trace and minor elements.

Application of the tectono-geochemistry method to mineral prospectivity mapping: a case study of the Gaosong tin-polymetallic deposit, Gejiu district, SW China

The tectono-geochemistry method as a lithogeochemical exploration tool is a process centric approach based on the premise that element migration and concentration within and adjacent to geological structures are controlled by large-scale dynamic earth processes that operate on a variety of scales to focus mass and energy flux. Here we present a case study of the Gaosong tin-polymetallic deposit, Gejiu district, SW China, illustrating how the tectono-geochemistry method can be applied to mineral prospectivity mapping. As a first step, 2216 fault rock samples collected within the Geiju district were assayed followed by a detailed examination of the assay results by means of factor analysis and multifractal singularity mapping. The main aims of these analyses were to (1) statistically explore the data with respect to specific element concentrations, associations and geochemical patterns by which the fault rock samples can be grouped, (2) better characterize the samples in terms of whether or not the rocks recorded any evidence for hydrothermal mineralization processes, and (3) identify any geochemical anomalies that may present vectors to buried ore. The results illustrate that element distribution patterns are greatly influenced by fault permeability and that NE-SW-striking faults are the most favorable in terms of concentration of ore elements. Factor analysis greatly assisted the identification and interpretation of, for example, element associations, and geochemical zonation patterns genetically related to intrusions. Recognition of singularities was of particular importance with respect to identifying and delineating primary fault tectono-geochemical anomalies that may be caused by buried ore. Of particular interest are low singularity values as these correspond with positive geochemical anomalies over known ore deposits in the Gejiu district. Anomalies delineated by local singularity exponents may represent undiscovered ore and, thus, warrant further exploration.

Concentrations of strontium, barium, cadmium, copper, zinc, manganese, chromium, antimony, selenium and lead in the equine liver and kidneys.

The concentrations of specific elements in the equine liver and kidneys are of practical relevance since horses are not only food-producing animals, but also partially serve as an indicator for the environmental pollution, as the basic feed includes plants like grass, grain and fruits. In this study, the concentrations of strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se) and lead (Pb) were measured in the liver, renal cortex and renal medulla of 21 horses (8 male; 13 female; aged between 5 months-28 years), using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Comparable Cu and Zn concentrations were detected in the liver and renal cortex, while approximately 50% lower concentrations were measured in the renal medulla. The lowest Sr, Cd and Se, but the highest Mn, Sb and Pb concentrations were measured in the liver. The Ba concentrations were comparable in the renal cortex and medulla, but lower in the liver of the horses. Gender-related differences were observed for Cd, Mn and Cr, with higher Cd concentrations in the liver, but lower Mn concentrations in the renal cortex and lower Cr concentrations in the renal medulla of female horses. Age-related differences were detected for most measured elements, however, the animal number per age-group was only low. In conclusion, the present study provides important reference data for the storage of Sr, Ba, Cd, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Sb, Se and Pb in the liver and kidneys of horses, which are of practical relevance for an evaluation of the exposure of horses to these elements, either via feed or the environment.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2193-1801-3-343) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Suitability of otolith microchemistry for stock separation of Baltic cod

Microchemical otolith analyses have been shown to provide valuable information on the life history, dispersal and stock characteristics of teleost fish. In the present study, the suitability of this technique for identifying the origin and distribution of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua L. from the Baltic Sea was examined using laser ablation-ICPMS. The capacity to distinguish individuals from different Baltic Sea stocks and from the adjacent North Sea stock based on incoporation of stock-specific elemental fingerprints along otolith growth axes was investigated. It was further tested if different origins led to spawning-site specific element concentrations in otolith cores. The results indicate that microchemical analyses of Baltic cod otoliths are applicable for differentiating individuals of different stocks. Analyses of similarities including 12 element/calcium ratios resulted in significant differences between individuals from the eastern and the western Baltic Sea and between North Sea and Baltic Sea samples. Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca, Y/Ca, Mg/Ca, Zr/Ca and Mn/Ca ratios had the strongest discriminatory power. A further separation of individuals caught in 3 different spawning grounds of the eastern Baltic, however, was not possible. Elemental compositions from the core regions of otoliths from young of the year cod caught in eastern and western Baltic Sea spawning grounds showed significant differences in Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca and Mg/Ca concentrations. Analyses of similarities again showed significant differences between these areas for juveniles. This study demonstrates the potential of otolith microchemical analyses to provide important information about the stock structure and connectivity of G. morhua in the Baltic Sea.