Study of As and Tl high-frequency electrodeless lamps for Zeeman absorption spectroscopy
High-frequency electrodeless light sources are known as bright radiators with the line spectrum, characterized by high intensities and narrow line shapes. The lamp balloons are mostly made of quartz and filled with a metal and buffer gas. These light sources must be optimized for each application in accordance with the specific requirements of radiation quality, lifetime, and stability. This work is devoted to the diagnostic of high-frequency electrodeless light sources for their use in high precision atomic absorption analyzers and other applications like disinfection. The spectral line intensities and profiles were studied in discharges with arsenic and thallium fillings. Special attentio…
Acetone measurements in the exhaled air by the cavity ring-down spectrometry
Our work is focused to develop sensitive optical diagnostic methods for the detection of Volatile Organic Compounds in the breath. For the breath measurements, we have built a cavity ring-down spectrometer, operated in the UV region. The system was tested and calibrated using a KinTek automated permeation tube system with nitrogen as a carrier gas, as well as self- prepared acetone mixtures in air with known concentrations. In this paper, we present results of the measurements of acetone concentration in the breath for the test group of randomly selected 40 people in the age group over 50. We observed the values of acetone concentration in the breath in the range from 0,1 – 80 ppm, with a m…
ASSESSING MERCURY POLLUTION USING BLACK STORK EGGSHELLS
Female birds whose bodies contain environmental contaminants produce eggs with shells that are likewise contaminated, making bird eggshells appropriate indicators for monitoring environmental toxins. Common contaminants include organic mercury compounds, especially methylmercury, which are known to bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food chain. Black storks (Ciconia nigra) predominantly consume fish and are thus at risk for high mercury intake. In this study, we used eggshells of black storks as a proxy to reconstruct the concentration levels and distribution of mercury, a well-known toxic element, in various parts of Latvia. Preliminary analyses have shown that deposition levels of mercur…