A NABO survey of 90 sites has found, however, that
most organic samples «had pretty much turned to mush» as the permafrost thawed, Smiarowski says.
Charcoal samples and
other organic samples were cleaned of rootlets and other extraneous plant materials before processing for radiocarbon dating at the Centre d'études nordiques 14C Laboratory (Université Laval, Québec City, PQ, Canada; UL), IsoTrace Laboratory (University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; TO) and Beta Analytic, Incorporated (Miami, FL, USA; BETA).
Expert in the application of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry for the analysis
of organic samples.
The surprising finding came from
the organic samples — not only were none of the samples free from contaminants, but the difference in levels of pollutants between the organic and conventional samples was very minimal.
In fact,
the organic samples actually contained more pollutants.