The Application Of Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Fluorescence To Research On Arctic Aerosol And Antarctic Animal Bones

Atmosphere pollution in the Arctic region has been drawing broad attention. In the past 10 years above, there have been many researches on source of this kind of pollution through studies on Arctic aerosol. Multi-elemental analysis seems necessary to detect the pollution source for the large quantity and specified relation of elements within aerosol. Currently, such techniques as ABS, IC, SEM, ICP-MS and ICP-AES, are usually used to accomplish this target. However, besides their different advantages, they have the same shortage, that is, long-time pre-analysis treatment, numerous analyzing procedures and reagents, and liability to sample pollution.In contrast, synchrotron radiation x-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) has many advantages over those analysis methods mentioned above. It is able to detect multi-elements (from Na to U in theory) at one time and it is highly sensitive with very low detection limits. There is no need for chemical treatment, so the speed is remarkably higher. The analysis is direct and unharmed, so the samples can be left for analysis next time. In this thesis, quantitative analysis of aerosol samples, collected in the marine boundary layer in the Arctic region during the First Chinese Arctic Research Expedition, was performed using SR-XRF and ICP-MS method.The levels of elements were117.3(ng/m~3, Ca),16.5(ng/m~3, V),19.3 (ng/m~3, Fe),3.4(ng/m~3, Ni),4.5(ng/m~3, Zn),1.4(ng/m~3, Pb), respectively. The results for these elements were in accordance with the previous report. Based upon the results and the advantage of SR-XRF, which is highly sensitive and non-destructive of sample, this method will be intensively used in the study of aerosols in polar region in the future.In 1964, Rose et al. found organic chlorides such as DDT in Adelie penguins' liver and fat. It indicated that Antarctica had been polluted even though it was remote to human activities. As time passed by, the pollution became more severe. In order to understand status and influence of environmental pollution in Antarctica and how pollutants transfer, international societies undertake many kinds of monitoring and investigation work, including research on levels and changes of heavy metals in Antarctica animals.In this thesis, mercury(Hg) was investigated in bone tissues of skua (Catharacta maccormick) and penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) collected in the maritime Antarctic using atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) and synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) method. The total levels of mercury in bone tissues of penguin and skua are much lower than those in other organs (e.g., kidney, liver). The toxic effects of mercury in bone tissues of seabirds in polar region are not known. We have used SR- XRF method to map the distribution of trace levels of mercury in bones. The levels of mercury are found to be enriched somewhere near the periosteal surface and/or endosteal surface. The distribution of mercury shows strongly correlation with that of some essential elements and probably poses negative effect on the bone metabolism inferring from the relationship of mercury with the other elements. These studies represent a first step toward understanding the toxic effects of mercury on bone of polar animals by suggesting the possible microscopic investigation.