AIR-POLLUTION AND BIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE TO VANADIUM USING SHORT-TIME NEUTRON-ACTIVATION ANALYSIS

Using INAA vanadium was measured in the work place air of a vanadium p entoxide production plant, and in APM samples collected in the vicinit y of the plant and from control regions. Vanadium contents exceeding m aximum admissible limits were found in the work place air which pollut ed the surroundings of the plant. As a consequence, increased vanadium levels were determined in the APM samples collected in the vicinity o f the plant compared to the control regions. To assess environmental e xposure to vanadium, the element was determined by INAA in hair and na ils of children living in the polluted region and in controls. In both tissues of the exposed children increased vanadium levels were found compared to the controls. A higher significance of the differences obs erved was detected for hair. This seems to suggest that hair vanadium is more sensitive test of environmental exposure to the element than n ail vanadium. Hair vanadium levels of control children compared very w ell with the published values for normal adults.