Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry

Environmental Forensics: Identifying Pollutant Sources Using Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Scheniza Meeton*

Environmental forensics has emerged as a critical tool for understanding the sources and pathways of pollution in the environment. The increasing complexity of environmental contamination, coupled with the growing concerns about the impact of pollutants on human health and ecosystems, has led to the development of advanced analytical techniques aimed at identifying and tracing pollutants back to their sources. One such method that has gained significant attention in recent years is Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS). This technique is particularly useful in environmental forensics because it provides a unique way to fingerprint pollutants, helping to distinguish between different sources of contamination and determine their origins. The application of IRMS in environmental forensics is particularly valuable in cases of diffuse pollution, where pollutants may come from a variety of sources, such as industrial activities, agricultural runoff, or urban waste. Isotopic signatures are natural variations in the isotopic composition of elements found in environmental samples. These variations arise from differences in the number of neutrons in the nucleus of an atom, which can lead to distinct isotopic ratios. For example, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and hydrogen all have multiple isotopes that occur in nature, and these isotopes are present in varying proportions depending on the source and chemical processes involved in the formation of the pollutant. By measuring these isotopic ratios using mass spectrometry,