Determination of Trace Elements in Airborne Particulates by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

Trace elements in airborne particulates were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) under the optimum analytical condition. Neutron irradiation for sample was done at the irradiation hole(neutron flux 110 n/.s) of TRIGA MARK-III research reactor in the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. For the verification of the analytical method, NIST SRM-1648 and NIES CRM No.8 ore chosen and analyzed. The accuracy and precision of the analysis of 40 and 24 trace elements in the samples were compared with the certified and reported values, respectively. The analytical method was found to be reliable enough when the analytical data of NIES sample were compared with those of different counties. In the analytical result of two or both of standard reference materials, relative standard deviation wes within the 15％ except a few elements and the relative error was within the 10％. We used this method to analyze 30 trace elements in airborne particulates collected with the high volume air sampler(PM-10) at too different locations and also confirmed the possibility to use this method as a routine monitoring tool to find out environmental pollution sources.