Accurate determination of iodine isotopes in environmental samples using triple quadrupole ICP-MS

The most common regulatory methods for environmental analysis focus on highly toxic contaminants such as As, Cd, Hg or Pb, which are essentially present as stable isotopes only. In some cases however, the analysis of radioactive isotopes (or nuclides) is required to accurately assess potential hazards. Iodine is especially critical as it is incorporated into the thyroid gland of humans and can cause severe damage. For iodine, two isotopes are of most concern: ¹³¹I, which has a half-life of only eight days and decays relatively quickly, and ¹²⁹I, which is a long-lived radionuclide with a half-life of 15.7 million years. Thermo Fisher Scientific demonstrates the ultratrace determination of ¹²⁹I in aqueous samples using triple quadrupole ICP-MS.