Analysis of marine bivalves and sediments

Recently, environmental monitoring has been complemented by programs for systematic and controlled long-term storage of environmental samples; i.e., environmental specimen banking (ESB). In the US a pilot ESB program is currently expanding to become past of several environmental and human health monitoring projects. The National Status and Trends (NS and T) program on the marine environment, administrated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is one of these projects and has initialized new investigations within the ESB research program. This research includes all steps of the ESB operation, with special emphasis on quality assurance in the selection, collection, preparation, storage, and analysis of marine samples according to validated procedures. A unique sequence of instrumental analytical methods involving x-ray fluorescence and neutron activation analysis procedures has been employed for the determination of 44 elements in marine bivalves. The individual procedures are an x-ray fluorescence method based on backscatter with fundamental parameter corrections, prompt gamma activation analysis, and neutron activation analysis with instrumental and radiochemical procedures. This analytical approach has been expanded to include the analysis of sediments and fish tissues