Canadian clean-up
15 Jan 2000
Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a method of monitoring and improving ground water pollution which will measure the degradation of organic contaminants far more accurately than is currently possible.
The technique - compound specific stable carbon isotope analysis - uses mass spectroscopy to analyse ground water contaminants. This is much quicker than the indirect methods currently used.
Team leader Barbara Sherwood Lollar says that the technique is suitable to monitor petrol and chlorinated solvents: `These are things we come into contact with every day and only a small amount is necessary to significantly pollute groundwater.'
