Application of Proton Induced X-Ray Emission Analysis to the St. Louis Regional Air Pollution Study

Summary, in English

The St Louis aerosol was sampled during the period 16-22 August 1973 simultaneously at two locations using cascade impactors for sequential 12-hour samples. The six particle size fractions of each sampling were individually analyzed using PIXE for elements from S to Br and beyond and for heavy elements including Pb which permitted time variations of concentrations and particle size distributions to be followed and related to meteorological changes during the sampling period. In addition, the data were compared with average levels of the elements in coastal north Florida and maritime Bermuda as well as at a third St. Louis site. From this it appeared that some of the concentrations in St. Louis were at natural levels whereas others appeared to be higher and linked to air pollution sources. These relationships and others in this study may lead to criteria for distinguishing between pollutants and natural background in urban aerosols.

• Author: Roland Akselsson; Celso Orsini; D L Meinert; Thomas B Johansson; Renee E Van Grieken; Henry C Kaufmann; K R Chapman; J William Nelson; John W Winchester
• Department/s: Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology; The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
• Publishing year: 1975
• Language: English
• Pages: 588-597
• Publication/Series: Advances in X-Ray Analysis
• Volume: 18
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: International Centre for Diffraction Data
• Topic: Environmental Health and Occupational Health
• Keywords: PIXE; proton-induced x-ray emission; urban aerosol; elemental composition; particle size fractions
• Status: Published