Some improvements in air particulate matter analysis by INAA

At ITN, analysis of air particulate matter has been made since 1999, stimul ated by a contract for air quality monitoring of an urban waste incinerator . Samples are analysed by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) a nd Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). Heavy metals and other elements ar e determined. The procedures for filter analysis have recently been changed , leading to the present comparison between the old and the new procedures. For INAA, in this new procedure we look for the 336.2 keV gamma line of In -115m in addition to the gamma-ray line of 527.9 keV used for the detection of Cd-115. Cd evaluations obtained by both gamma lines are compared and de tection limits for Cd are presented. Preliminary results for Cd, As, Ni, an d Hg are shown for a region in the north of Lisbon. (C) 2001 Published by E lsevier Science Ltd.