Analysis of the Arctic aerosol for a ten year period using various neutron activation analysis methods

Landsberger, Sheldon; Zhang, P.; Wu, De; Chatt, A.

doi:10.1007/bf02055342

Cited by 10 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 9 publications

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“…While many episodic studies on particle chemical compositions have been reported for different locations around the circumpolar Arctic ( − ), there are a few data sets available with systematic long-term particulate matter col lection and analysis ( − ). A long-term (1980−1995) systematic particle sampling and chemical characterization at Alert (82°5‘ N, 62°3‘ W) in the Canadian Arctic is reported in detail by several authors ( − ). Among these results, silver concentrations were only reported at Sevettijärvi, Finland; Ny Ålesund and Vardø, Norway; and North Earth Archipelago, Russia, from episodic studies ( 12 , 13 , 17 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ambient Silver Concentration Anomaly in the Finnish Arctic Lower Atmosphere

Basunia¹,

Landsberger²,

Yli‐Tuomi³

et al. 2003

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Mean silver concentrations in weekly particle samples collected at Kevo, northern Finland, were determined for the period of October 1964-March 1978 by neutron activation analysis. Two distinct periods were observed in the silver concentration levels over this time frame. During 1964-1970, mean weekly silver concentration levels were found in the range of 0.01-190 ng/m3 with an arithmetic mean of 2.19 ng/m3. A few very high silver concentration levels (>10 ng/m3) were observed in this period, some of which simultaneously occurred with some of the highest bromine and iodine concentration levels. During 1971-1978, silver concentration levels were in the range of 0.02-0.89 ng/m3 with a mean value of 0.09 ng/m3. The observed concentration levels in the later period matched well the data from the early 1990s reported at Sevettijärvi, northern Finland, about 60 km east of Kevo. Data analysis, historical records for this region, and residence time analysis (RTA) using wind back-trajectories show that occasional smelting of silver-rich Norilsk ores at the Nikel smelter, Kola Peninsula, was probably a significant contributor to elevated mean silver concentration levels during 1964-1970. RTA alone was not able to unambiguously identify the most probable source region for highest silver impacts at Kevo due to the weekly integrated nature of the samples collected. Critical examination of wind back-trajectories (24 per day) for specific high silver, bromine, and iodine concentration weeks was carried out to supplement the ensemble RTA analysis (2 back-trajectories per day). The supplemental back-trajectory analysis revealed that deposition of the smelter component silver as well as the sea components (bromine and iodine) could occur together at Kevo during these weekly sampling periods. The study implies that data from weekly integrated samples are insufficiently time-resolved for RTA methods alone to unambiguously resolve the sources contributing to ambient atmospheric concentrations at Kevo, Finland.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ambient Silver Concentration Anomaly in the Finnish Arctic Lower Atmosphere

Basunia¹,

Landsberger²,

Yli‐Tuomi³

et al. 2003

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Content of trace elements in the respirable fractions of the air particulate of urban and rural areas monitored by neutron activation analysis

Gallorini

Rizzio

Birattari

et al. 1999

Biol Trace Elem Res

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The concentrations (ng/m3) of more than 30 trace elements have been determined in the total air particulate matter and in the size-segregated fractions collected in urban, industrialized, and rural residential areas in northern Italy by means of a multistage inertial impactor with the PM10 inlet. All measurements have been carried out by instrumental neutron activation analysis, except for Pb and Cd, which have been determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy. Analytical quality assurance procedures have been developed with special regard to blanks, reagents, and sampling. Total concentrations and the granulometric distribution found in the different locations are reported and compared.

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