DETERMINATION OF AIRBORNE CADMIUM IN ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO-SMOKE BY INSTRUMENTAL NEUTRON-ACTIVATION ANALYSIS WITH A COMPTON SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

Concentrations of cadmium, a toxic trace element, were measured in the indoor air of several public places where environmental tobacco smoke was present. Particulate-phase cadmium concentrations were determined by analyzing air filter samples using epithermal instrumental neutron activation analysis in conjunction with a Compton suppression gamma-r ay detection system, in which the detection limit for cadmium was redu ced to a few nanograms per filter. A cascade impactor and a personal f ilter sampler were used to collect the indoor suspended particulate ma tter for size-fractionated mass as well as total mass, respectively. R esults show that where environmental tobacco smoke is present, cadmium concentrations are significantly higher than background and that abou t 80% of the cadmium found in indoor airborne particulate matter is as sociated with particles with aerodynamic diameters less than 1.8 mum. In one instance, airborne cadmium concentrations in a music club were found to be 38 ng/m3, which is at least 30 times higher than back grou nd.