Skip to main content
Log in

Content of trace elements in the respirable fractions of the air particulate of urban and rural areas monitored by neutron activation analysis

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The concentrations (ng/m3) of more than 30 trace elements have been determined in the total air particulate matter and in the sizesegregated fractions collected in urban, industrialized, and rural residential areas in northern Italy by means of a multistage inertial impactor with the PM10 inlet. All measurements have been carried out by instrumental neutron activation analysis, except for Pb and Cd, which have been determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy. Analytical quality assurance procedures have been developed with special regard to blanks, reagents, and sampling. Total concentrations and the granulometric distribution found in the different locations are reported and compared.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. W. Schroeder, M. Dobson, D. M. Kane, and N. D. Johnson, Toxic trace elements associated with airborne particulate matter: a review,J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc. 37, 1267 (1987).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. WHO/UNEP, 1992Urban Air Pollution in Megacities of the World. World Health Organisation, Blackwell, Oxford (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  3. International Organisation for Standardization, ISO/TC 146/SC 2+3 Ad Hoc WG & CEN/TC137/WG 3/N107, ISO, Geneva (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  4. M. Gallorini, P. A. Borroni, M. Bonardi, and A. Rolla, Trace elements in the atmospheric particulate of Milan and suburban areas: a study carried out by INAA,J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 35(1–2), 241–247 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. M. Gallorini and E. Rizzio, Trace elements in total and respirable fractions of air particulate of urban and suburban areas investigated by neutron activation analysis,Fres. Environ. Bull. 7, 7–19 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  6. IAEA Sampling and Analytic Methods for NAA of Airborne Particulate Matter, IAEA Report IAEA-TCS-4, Vienna (1992).

  7. R. Dams, Nuclear activation techniques for the determination of trace elements in atmospheric aereosols, particulates and sludge samples,Pure Appl. Chem. 64(7), 991 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. M. Gallorini, Trace elements monitoring in atmospheric pollution processes,Microchem. J. 51, 127 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. A. Alian and B. Sansoni, in Activation analysis in air particulate matter, Z. B. Alfassi, ed.,Activation Analysis, Vol. II, CRC, Boca Raton, FL, p. 503 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  10. S. Landsberger, P. Zhang, D. Wu, and A. Chatt, Analysis of the artic aerosol for a ten yearperiod using various activation analysis methods,J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 217(1), 11 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. J. M. Ondov, F. Divita, Jr., and A. Suarez, Size-spectra and growth of particles bearing As, Se,Sb and Zn in Washington D.C. aerosol by INAA,J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 192, 215 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. V. F. Persedov, Atmospheric aerosol and possibilities of their analysis for elemental content at the IBR-2 reactor,J. Radioanl. Nucl. Chem. 224, 21 (1997).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Y. S. Chung, Y. J. Chung, E. S. Jeong, and S. Y. Cho, Study on air pollution monitoring in Korea using instrumental neutron activation analysis,J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 217(1), 83 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. R. Zeisler, N. Haselberger, M. Makarewicz, R. Ogris, R. M. Parr, S. F. Stone, O. Valkovic, V. Valkovic, and E. Wehrstein, Nuclear techniques applied to air particulate matter studies,J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 217(1), 5 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gallorini, M., Rizzio, E., Birattari, C. et al. Content of trace elements in the respirable fractions of the air particulate of urban and rural areas monitored by neutron activation analysis. Biol Trace Elem Res 71, 209–222 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02784207

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02784207

Index Entries

Navigation