Distribution of 35 elements in peat cores from ombrotrophic bogs studied by epithermal neutron activation analysis

In ombrotrophic bogs the surface peat layer is supplied with chemical substances only from the atmosphere. Therefore, peat cores from these bogs can be used to study temporal trends in atmospheric deposition of pollutants. In this work epithermal neutron activation analysis was applied for the first time to study the distribution of 35 elements in peat profiles from ombrotrophic bogs. The selected samples were from Finnmark county in northern Norway, one pristine site far from any local pollution source, and the other samples from strongly affected by long-term operation of a Russian copper-nickel smelters located close to the border. The elements are classified with respect to their behavior in the uppermost 40 cm of the peat, and similarities and differences between the two profiles are discussed. As compared with other more commonly used analytical techniques based on acid decomposition of the sample, ENAA has the advantage of providing the total concentrations of the elements.