XRF ANALYSIS OF LEAD IN SUSPENDED AIR PARTICULATE MATTER COLLECTED USING GLASS FIBRE FILTERS

SBARATO, V.; PÉREZ R.D.; RUBIO M.; SÁNCHEZ H.J.

Karlsruhe

Conferencia; International Conference on Advances in Destructive and Non-Destructive Analysis for Environmental Monitoring and Nuclear Forensics; 2002

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

A new method for X ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry determination of lead in suspended particulate matter collected from air in glass fibre filters is described. Since 1997, total suspended particulate matter has been collected in Córdoba City, Argentina, in compliance with a United States Environmental Protection Agency standard, in order to monitor ambient air quality. This standard is the most frequently referred to in terms of environmental regulation in Córdoba. In accordance with Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, samples have been taken using high volume equipment with glass fibre filters. The method was developed in order to minimize matrix and grain size effects, in comparison with data obtained by direct irradiation of the filter surface. The detection limit obtained is 0.3 ng/m3 for lead in air. The procedure can be applied to the determination of various high and low atomic number elements in such samples. Data determined by XRF spectrometry were compared with those obtained by analytical electrochemistry. All information shows that lead is not a serious pollutant of air in Córdoba City.