Citation

Lukaszewski Z, Karbowska B, Zembrzuski W, Siepak M. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 2012; 80: 184-189.

Affiliation

Poznan University of Technology, pl. Sklodowskiej-Curie 5,60-965 Poznan, Poland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Academic Press)

DOI

10.1016/j.ecoenv.2012.02.026

PMID

22425211

Abstract

Thallium is a highly toxic element. Its concentration in sediment fractions from the 2004 tsunami in Thailand was investigated. A modified BCR procedure was used for sequential extraction. Tl was determined by flow injection differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. It was found that the majority of thallium in the investigated tsunami sediments (86-97 percent) is entrapped in the alumosilicate parent matter i.e. it is entirely immovable. Only the total destruction of this residual fraction with hydrofluoric acid made this thallium available. The conclusion strongly supports the hypothesis that thallium is mainly entrapped in alumosilicate parent matter. Total thallium concentration in the investigated tsunami sediments was divergent in various samples from 0.37 to 1.13μgg(-1) and significantly different from the reference area (0.05μgg(-1)). Tsunami sediment fractions from different sampling points are divergent in terms of total thallium concentration and concentration of mobile thallium. Generally, mobile thallium concentration was growing in sequence: water soluble fraction

Language: en