Lead (Pb) isotopic analyses proved to be a very efficient tool for tracing the sources of local and global Pb pollution. This review presents an overview of literature published on the use of Pb isotopic analyses of different environmental matrices (atmospheric aerosols, lichens, tree rings, peat deposits, lake, stream, marine sediments, soils, etc.). In order to gain more insight, the isotopic...

A range of isotopic methods (using radioactive and stable isotopes) have been used to investigate groundwater processes and to determine the sources and pathways for groundwater contamination. Methods using stable isotopes of nitrogen have been applied in a variety of Australian and international groundwater studies. Isotopic methods have involved either application of tracer isotopes or studyi...

Tracking migratory animals has benefitted using measurements of naturally occurring stable isotopes of hydrogen (δ (2)H) in keratinous tissues such as hair and feathers to link animal origins to continental patterns or isoscapes of δ (2)H in precipitation. However, for most taxa, much less information exists on the use of stable oxygen isotope ratios (δ (18)O) despite the fact that δ (2)H and δ...

EDITORIAL article Front. Water, 01 June 2023Sec. Environmental Water Quality Volume 5 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2023.1211029

Documentation of contaminant source and dispersal pathways in riverine environments is essential to mitigate the potentially harmful effects of contaminants on human and ecosystem health, and is required from a legal perspective (particularly where the polluter pays principle is in effect) in assessing site liability. Where multiple natural and/or anthropogenic sources exist, identification of ...

Isotopes of many elements have been used in terrestrial, atmospheric, and aqueous environmental studies, providing powerful tracers and rate monitors. Short-lived nuclides that can be used to measure time are continuously produced from nuclear reactions involving cosmic rays, both within the atmosphere and exposed surfaces, and from decay of long-lived isotopes. Nuclear activities have produced...

Phylogeny based on ribosomal RNA sequences alone is rarely a reliable indicator of microbial function. To circumvent this problem, nucleic acid based techniques have been developed that exploit the physical properties of stable isotopes to study microbially mediated processes within complex environmental samples. Investigations using labelled substrates, or which detect variations in the natura...

Cesium radioactive isotopes (134Cs and 137Cs) are dangerous to human health due to their long half-life and high solubility in water. Nuclear experiments, wars, and nuclear plant accidents have been the main sources of Cs release into the environment. In recent years, several methods have been introduced for the elimination of Cs radioactive isotopes from contaminated wate...