In-Situ Evaluation of Peri-Urban Heavy Metal Contamination Using Portable XRF.

Contamination, particularly heavy metals, from industry, agriculture and residential construction has been an increasing concern with rapid urban expansion in recently years. Numerous studies have reported elevated levels of heavy metals in peri-urban areas. However, in most of those studies, heavy metals were quantified based on traditional laboratory techniques, which involves tedious field sampling and is often cost prohibitive and time consuming. Portable X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry has shown great potential to be used for in-situ identification of a variety of elements. This study aims to assess environmental quality of peri-urban areas of Baton Rouge, Louisiana based on field scanning results obtained from a portable XRF. All scanning sites were geo-referenced with GPS and surface soil samples were collected at approximately 20% of the sites for accuracy assessment via laboratory approaches. The spatial distribution patterns of a series of heavy metals were analyzed and linked to possible pollutant sources.