Near infrared spectroscopy as a tool to monitor contaminants in soil, sediments and water—State of the art, advantages and pitfalls

Public awareness related with environmental issues (e.g. soil and water contamination) is on the increase, determining the advent of more astringent safety standards where new analytical methods are required to complain with these guidelines. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is originated from the absorption measurements of different IR frequencies and has become a very attractive technique to measure heavy metals and other contaminants in soils, sediments and water. The aim of this review is to provide with an overview of different applications of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy addressing issues related with contamination in soil, sediments and water. A discussion on the main factors or variables that affect the results of this type of applications is provided.