DETERMINATION OF TRACE-METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN SIZE-CLASSIFIED ATMOSPHERIC PARTICLES BY ETV-ICP-MS

Atmospheric particles were sampled and fractionated according to their size by a cascade impactor in Berlin, capital city of Germany, on the Brocken, peak of the Hart mountains and on the Szrenica peak in the G iant mountains, Republic Poland. The fractionated particles were colle cted on small graphite targets and subsequently analyzed by ETV-ICP-MS . Distribution curves were measured showing trace-metal contents in ai r versus the aerodynamic particle diameter for the elements Pb, Ag, Cd and Tl. Despite good element correlation, the distribution curves dif fer significantly for the three sampling locations. The limits of dete ction for the elements of concern were in the pg/m(3) range at a sampl ing time of 4 h. An attempt was made to determine single particles: in urban aerosols a content was found of 1.10(-13) g Tl and 9.10(-13) g Ag in single particles of the size fraction < 7.5 mu m and > 3.45 mu m .