THE IMPACT OF HEAVY-METALS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO-SMOKE ON INDOORAIR-QUALITY AS DETERMINED BY COMPTON SUPPRESSION NEUTRON-ACTIVATION ANALYSIS

The method of instrumental neutron activation analysis (NAA) has been improved for air filter samples in the determination of low level heav y metals in indoor air. By using the techniques of epithermal neutron irradiation in conjunction with Compton suppression, the detection lim its of cadmium, arsenic and antimony measurements have been dramatical ly reduced to 2 ng for Cd, 0.2 ng for As, and 0.03 ng for Sb. The dete rmination of these heavy metals in particulate material generated from cigarette smoking in indoor environments has been conducted. Other el ements, Br, Cl, Na, K, Zn were also found at elevated levels.