Multi-element study of atmospheric aerosols by X-ray fluorescence analysis.

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry was applied to the metal determination of daily aerosol samples. It was found that a series of used filter can serve as calibration standards for environmental monitoring. An aliquot of the same air filter used for X-ray fluorescence spectrometry was digested with mineral acids and the content of metals was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Some of the results on the concentration of iron, manganese, copper and zinc in the surface air at Tsukuba from June 1980 to June 1981 were given as an example.