DETECTION LIMITS FOR HAZARDOUS AND RADIOACTIVE ELEMENTS IN AIRBORNE AEROSOLS USING INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED AIR PLASMA-ATOMIC EMISSION-SPECTROMETRY

This research presents investigations into the use of inductively coup led air plasma - atomic emission spectrometry (air-plasma ICPAES) to d etermine the presence of inorganic contaminants in airborne aerosols. Limits of detection (LOD) in the ppm to ppb range for 19 hazardous met als and radionuclides were determined for aerosols of solutions nebuli zed into the air plasma. For many elements, the determined LOD surpass the threshold limit values established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists by one to three orders of magnitude . The potential of air-plasma ICPAES for continuous on-line monitoring of airborne contaminants is discussed.