A comparison of XRFS and ICP-OES methods for soil trace metal analyses in a mining impacted agricultural watershed.

Field portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRFS) has become increasingly prevalent for in situ detection of trace metals, as it is both rapid and cost effective. The accuracy of in situ XRFS analyses has been questioned due to possible interferences from elevated soil moisture and organic content. In this study, three metal analysis protocols (Cd, Pb, Zn) were compared for surface soil samples collected near the Tar Creek Superfund Site in northeastern Oklahoma.