title: In situ monitoring (field screening) and assessment of lead and arsenic contaminants in the greater New Orleans area using a portable X-ray fluorescence analyser.
abstract: This paper reports environmental assessment and identification of environmental contaminants caused by exposure to toxic metals such as Pb and As after Hurricane Katrina using an onsite analysis method. Concentrations of lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) detected in many soil samples after Hurricane Katrina were reported to exceed EPA allowable value. Toxic metals mentioned above were measured by a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer (XRF) in the greater New Orleans area. The portable XRF analyzer provides rapid data collection in the field. Distribution of Pb in New Orleans is displayed in a regional map using geographic information system (GIS). The map provides an updated image of environmental exposure to Pb contamination in the greater New Orleans area after Hurricane Katrina and also shows Pb contaminated areas where Pb concentrations exceed the EPA allowable level. The portable XRF provides a rapid analysis method for toxic metals and can be used for the field screening of soils at any place and for identifying contamination areas rapidly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Physics, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA 70402, USA. Ju.Chou@selu.edu
authors.forename: Ju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Elbers
authors.forename: Garrett
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bursavich
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007854:Lead; D001151:Arsenic