Application of two INAA methods to pollution studies of sediments from Saronikos Gulf,Greece

Thirty elements were determined by two INAA methods in sediment core samples from N. Saronikos Gulf, Greece, and the results were subjected to multivariate analysis. This procedure resulted in the separation of samples into chemical groups that were environmentally meaningful and sufficient to (a) distinguish among different pollution sources; (b) trace the routes and the extent of pollution in sediments; and (c) define the least affected areas representing the geochemical background. The principal components analysis of the analytical data for 18 selected elements revealed that, among the elements determined in this study, the most discriminating were As, Sb, Ag, Ca, Au, Zn and the rare earth elements (REE).