Evaluation of atmospheric airborne particles in Lisbon, Portugal using neutron activation analysis

Summary

We have employed Compton supression neutron activation analysis in conjunction with thermal and epithermal neutrons to detemine trace elements in airborne particulate matter in Lisbon, Portugal. As a result of the proximity of ocean marine, elements such as sodium and chlorine can signficantly decrease the analytical sensitivities of many elements of interest due ot the high backgrounds arising from ³⁸Cl and ²⁴Na. Compton suppression has resulted in the increase of the analytical sensitivities using thermal neutrons of Al, Ba, Ce, Cr, Cu, Ni, Rb, Se, Th, Ti, V, and Zn. The use of Compton suppression and epithermal neutrons significantly reduced the detection limits for As, I, K, Si, and W, while the utilization of solely epithermal neutrons improved the analyses of In.