Neutron activation analysis of laundry dryer lint

The concentrations of 22 elements in 10 laundry dryer lint samples were det ermined by computerized systematic instrumental absolute neutron activation analysis. The mean concentrations (and their standard deviations) of Al, A g, Au, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, I, Y, Mg, Mn, Na, Sb, Sc, Se, Ti, U, V a nd Zn were equal to 966(633), 2.4(0.9), 0.13(0.07), 19(13), 3725(1262), 566 (153), 1.0(0.4), 27(18), 62(32), 471(146), 1.3(1), 221(78), 1102(384), 6(2) , 433(216), 14(14), 0.07(0.06), 9(5), 291(125), 0.5(0.3), 1.1(0.6) and 90(1 41) ppm respectively. They were compared with the mean concentrations in th e Earth's crust. The concentrations of Ag, Au, Sb and Se were found to be s ignificantly (>10) enriched in the lint. Their origin was tentatively estab lished (except for Sb). The purpose of this work was to determine the backg round levels for different elements in this material, in order to use it fo r environmental screening for these elements.