On achieving measurement quality in air pollution studies employing nuclear techniques

Instrumental neutron activation, proton induced X-ray emission and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence procedures were employed for trace element determinations in samples of fractionated air particulate matter deposited on filters. The techniques are well suited to analyse the generally small samples. However, indications of bias between techniques were found in the analysis of individual filters. This may be rectified with the development of matched reference materials. The three techniques were used in this work to determine trace elements in bulk samples of air particulate matter and in a set of intercomparison samples of fine air particulate matter on filters. The test results on these materials showed good agreement among the employed techniques and demonstrated the quality potential of air particulate analyses.