TRACE-ELEMENTS AND RADIOACTIVITY IN AEROSOL-PARTICLES, PRODUCED IN THE AREA OF PTOLEMAIS (GREECE)

Most of the Greek lignite power plants have been installed in the area of Ptolemais, and a major part of them during the period 1981-1990. A erosol filters collected in the first and the last years of the decade have been analysed for trace elements as well as for radioactivity (t otal beta) content. Analysis was performed by radioisotope excited X-r ay fluorescence, and 17 elements were determined. A special interest i s focused on lead concentrations, an element whose environmental conce ntrations are regulated by the Greek law; the results for lead were va lidated by atomic absorption spectrometry. Trace element and radioacti vity levels were found significantly lower than the current limit. Enr ichment factors and correlation among the analysed elements were also estimated.