R. Zeisler et al., NUCLEAR TECHNIQUES APPLIED TO AIR PARTICULATE MATTER STUDIES, Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry, 217(1), 1997, pp. 5-10
The most important fraction of aerosols with respect to human health i
s the respirable fraction, which has particles less than 10 mu m in eq
uivalent aerodynamic diameter (EAD), the so called PM10 fraction. The
collection of these respirable particles and the determination of thei
r trace element composition is the focus of an IAEA Go-ordinated Resea
rch Programme (CRP). ?he IAEA Laboratory participated in this Programm
e and established collection sites for the air particulate samples on
the grounds of the Atominstitute of the Austrian Universities in Vienn
a and the IAEA Laboratories, Seibersdorf, representing an urban reside
ntial site and a rural site. The collected samples as well as samples
of simulated air filters (used also for blind controls) and control ma
terials were analyzed sequentially and/or in sections by X-ray fluores
cence (XRF), proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE), instrumental neutro
n activation analysis (INAA), and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS)
. Results demonstrate the applicability of the PM-10 sampling approach
, provided PIXE and/or. INAA are used in the determinations. Reliable
results can be obtained that will lead in comparable air pollution dat
a for many regions in the world through CRP.