An appraisal of sample preparation, analysis and some toxicological implications of ancient industrial metalliferous pollution

Abstract

Metalliferous deposits are common worldwide. Some have been derived from activities following industrial revolutions in various countries, albeit at somewhat differing times. Others can trace their antiquity much further. This appraisal seeks to consider the associated activities of sample collection protocols and selected analytical procedures and considers results, in a broad-based manner, from diverse geographic areas of our planet which exhibit a clearly defined recent or ancient industrial heritage.

Keywords:

• Metalliferous
• toxicology
• archaeology
• bioaccumulation
• human health

Acknowledgement

Many thanks to my daughter Andrea Kennedy for all her labours in sorting out formatting problems, without which I would have remained bewildered.