There is a distinct lack of knowledge regarding the environmental processes governing the transport and fate of elements within natural biogeochemical cycles. This is the case for several elements with potential environmental impacts, including emerging contaminants (e.g., critical elements) and radionuclides. Even some of the most studied elements (e.g., cesium and iodine radionuclides) still tackle nowadays subjects such as aquatic dispersion, sediment accumulation/remobilization, transfer between environmental compartments, potential remediation techniques, and reminiscent scenarios from historical accidents. Understanding the reactivity, dispersion and fate of these elements in representative environmental settings is, thus, essential for watershed management and nuclear safety strategies. For the case of radionuclides, a commonly used approach implies studying the stable isotopes of the elements of interest, given the analogue chemical behaviour to their radioactive homologues.
This Research Topic aims at enhancing the current knowledge on environmental trace element studies given the existing, current cutting-edge analytical techniques, capable of boosting the state of art for both commonly studied and less monitored elements, such as Cs, Ga, Ge, In, Tl, Tc, I, Nb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Te, PGEs, YREEs, etc. In order to achieve the aim of the Research Topic, it is highly encouraged to provide articles focusing on single or a small group of elements rather than a general overview, where many elements are presented at once but little, detailed understanding about all of them can be finally elucidated.
Any contribution dealing with the understanding of the environmental behaviour of the listed elements (i.e., stable or radioactive, anthropogenic or geogenic) is welcomed, ranging from the most fundamental approach to direct observations from environmental monitoring or bioaccumulation in organisms, based on field/laboratory experiments or review works.
There is a distinct lack of knowledge regarding the environmental processes governing the transport and fate of elements within natural biogeochemical cycles. This is the case for several elements with potential environmental impacts, including emerging contaminants (e.g., critical elements) and radionuclides. Even some of the most studied elements (e.g., cesium and iodine radionuclides) still tackle nowadays subjects such as aquatic dispersion, sediment accumulation/remobilization, transfer between environmental compartments, potential remediation techniques, and reminiscent scenarios from historical accidents. Understanding the reactivity, dispersion and fate of these elements in representative environmental settings is, thus, essential for watershed management and nuclear safety strategies. For the case of radionuclides, a commonly used approach implies studying the stable isotopes of the elements of interest, given the analogue chemical behaviour to their radioactive homologues.
This Research Topic aims at enhancing the current knowledge on environmental trace element studies given the existing, current cutting-edge analytical techniques, capable of boosting the state of art for both commonly studied and less monitored elements, such as Cs, Ga, Ge, In, Tl, Tc, I, Nb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Te, PGEs, YREEs, etc. In order to achieve the aim of the Research Topic, it is highly encouraged to provide articles focusing on single or a small group of elements rather than a general overview, where many elements are presented at once but little, detailed understanding about all of them can be finally elucidated.
Any contribution dealing with the understanding of the environmental behaviour of the listed elements (i.e., stable or radioactive, anthropogenic or geogenic) is welcomed, ranging from the most fundamental approach to direct observations from environmental monitoring or bioaccumulation in organisms, based on field/laboratory experiments or review works.
