Individual particle characterization of Siberian aerosols by micro-PIKE and backscattering spectrometry

Individual particle analysis using micro-PIXE and proton backscattering was performed for selected aerosol samples collected over Siberia. Point analy ses were complemented by x-ray mapping for complex particles. Hierarchical cluster analysis of 124 particles identified in general the same particle g roups, as found by automated electron microprobe analyses of approximately 25000 particles from the same locations. However, owing to the superior sen sitivity of micro-PIXE, a number of heavy metals were identified, suggestin g an anthropogenic origin of particles. These metals remained undetected by EPXMA owing to its inferior sensitivity. Elemental mapping of single aeros ol particles yielded important information on the chemical heterogeneities. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.