Aerosol analysis for the regional air pollution study. Final report

Technical Report · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7048190· OSTI ID:7048190

Jaklevic, J M; Gatti, R C; Goulding, F S; Loo, B W; Thompson, A C

The design and operation of an aerosol sampling and analysis program implemented during the 1975 to 1977 St. Louis Regional Air Pollution Study is described. A network of ten samplers were operated at selected sites in the St. Louis area and the total mass and elemental composition of the collected particulates were determined. Sampling periods of 2 to 24 hours were employed. The samplers were capable of collecting aerosol particles in two distinct size ranges corresponding to fine (< 2.4 ..mu..m diameter) and coarse (> 2.4 ..mu..m diameter) particles. This unique feature allowed the separation of the particulate samples into two distinct fractions with differing chemical origins and health effects. The analysis methods were also newly developed for use in the St. Louis RAPS study. Total particulate mass was measured by a beta-particle attenuation method in which a precision of +- 5 ..mu..m/cm/sup 2/ could be obtained in a one minute measurement time. Elemental compositions of the samples were determined using an energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence method in which detectable limits of 5 ng/cm/sup 2/ or less were routinely achieved for elements ranging in atomic number from Al to Pb. The advantages of these analytical methods over more conventional techniques arise from the ability to automate the measurements. During the course of the two year study, a total of more than 35,000 individual samples were processed and a total of 28 concentrations measured for each sample.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Lawrence Berkeley Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 7048190
• Report Number(s): LBL-6497
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABSORPTION
AEROSOL MONITORING
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
AIR SAMPLERS
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ARSENIC
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BROMINE
CALCIUM
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHROMIUM
COLLOIDS
COPPER
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
DATA PROCESSING
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
GALLIUM
HALOGENS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INFORMATION
IRON
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
LEAD
MANGANESE
MERCURY
METALS
MONITORING
NICKEL
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
PARTICLE SIZE
POLLUTION
POTASSIUM
PROCESSING
RUBIDIUM
SAMPLERS
SELENIUM
SEMIMETALS
SIZE
SOLS
STRONTIUM
SULFUR
TITANIUM
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VANADIUM
X-RAY EMISSION ANALYSIS
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS
ZINC