A study of the behavior of selected metals in affected environments using an isotopic approach

Metals of anthropogenic origin have consistently polluted the environment. This thesis focuses mainly on highly contaminated soils or tree rings near mines and smelters in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, Portuguese soils were also assessed to study Pb isotopes in post-fire soils. The tracing capabilities of Pb isotopic ratios were employed to determine contamination sources and to evaluate the potential of pine trees as an environmental archive. Several analytical methods were applied, such as catalytic oxidation, Q-ICP-MS, ICP-OES, FEG-SEM/EDS, EPMA, XRD, etc. Soils near smelters located in three different cities [Kabwe (Pb-Zn), Luanshya (Cu, Co), and Selebi Phikwe (Ni, Pb)] exhibited concentrations of metals greatly exceeding those deemed acceptable by the competent authorities. In Kabwe, for example, concentrations of Pb exceeded 16 000 mg kg-1 . In all sites, contamination was shown to be significant only in the upper ±15 cm of soil. Samples of soils taken in remote locations were always clear of contamination. In Luanshya, metal(oid) bearing particles found in the soils were typically spherical and composed of rapidly cooled sulfides and oxides in the flue gas chambers of the local smelter. These were present only in the topsoil. The tree ring record of pine trees in Kabwe was shown to mimic the..