Natural Cadmium Isotopic Variations in Eight Geological Reference Materials (NIST SRM 2711, BCR 176, GSS-1, GXR-1, GXR-2, GSD-12, Nod-P-1, Nod-A-1) and Anthropogenic Samples, Measured by MC-ICP-MS

In this study, the Cd isotopic composition of various geological reference materials and anthropogenic samples was investigated. The measurements were made by multicollector ICP-MS and instrumental mass fractionation was controlled using a "sample-standard bracketing" technique. Cadmium isotopic data are reported relative to an internal Cd solution (Cd Spex) and expressed as the ¹¹⁴ Cd/¹¹⁰Cd delta value. Two other Cd solutions (Prolabo and JMC) were analysed and yielded the same 0% delta value. A fractionated Cd metal sample (Münster Cd) was used as a secondary reference material for Cd isotopic measurements and we obtained a ¹¹⁴ Cd/¹¹⁰ Cd delta value of 4.48% relative to Cd Spex solution. As opposed to multi-stage Cd purification previously published in the literature, a new one step anionic exchange purification using dilute HCl for the analysis of Cd isotopes in geological samples was developed. This method enabled a high recovery (> 95%) and effective separation of the sample matrix to be achieved. The long-term external reproducibility was evaluated at 0.12% (2 standard deviations) for the ¹¹⁴ Cd/¹¹⁰Cd ratio, based on reference solutions and replicated measurements of samples over one year. The variation of Cd isotopic composition of natural terrestrial samples is restricted to a small range of 0.4%, which is similar to previously reported results. In contrast, large variations of Cd isotopic composition were found for anthropogenic samples with values as low as ?0.64% for a dust sample issued from a lead smelter and values as high as +0.50% for NIST SRM 2711 (metal-rich soil). These variations are 10 times larger than the reproducibility and suggest that Cd isotopes can be useful as tracers of anthropogenic sources of Cd in the environment.