MULTIELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF AMBIENT AIR DUST PARTICULATES FROM A CEMENT FACTORY BY NEUTRON-ACTIVATION

Ambient air dust particulate samples collected from six different loca tions in the areas surrounding a cement factory in central India were analysed for 30 elements (Ag, As, Au, Ba, Br, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Ga, Hf, Hg, In, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Ta, Th, Yb and Zn) by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Samples we re irradiated at a therma] neutron flux of 10(12) approximately 10(13) n cm-2 s-1 in the APSARA/CIRUS reactor at Bombay for 10 min, 1 h, 6 h and 1 week followed by counting on an HPGe detector and 4 K MCA. Seve ral standards such as coal fly ash (SRM 1633a), urban particulate matt er (SRM 1648) (from NIST, USA), vehicle exhaust and pond sediment (fro m NIES, Japan) and a USGS standard rock BCR-1 were also analysed for q uality assurance. Wide differences have been observed in elemental con centrations of As, Br, Co, Cr, Fe, Se and Zn in dust particulates coll ected from different locations depending on its distance from the fact ory. A comparison of the data with mean elemental concentrations of fu gitive dust collected from different locations of the same factory sho ws significant differences in Ba, Cs, Se, As, Mn and Br contents.