Environmental Protection: Nuclear Analytical Techniques in Air Pollution Monitoring and Research

Nuclear techniques have been applied to the analysis of airborne particulate matter (APM), which, depending on its components, can have negative impacts on health. International coordinated research programs sponsored by the IAEA support this practical application of nuclear technology, identify the primary pollutants in each nation, and generate comparative data. APM can be collected through various sampling methods, with or without size selection. Nuclear techniques used in the analysis may include neutron activation analysis, energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, and particle-induced X-ray emission. These techniques can be used on other biological indicators of air pollution as well as on the air samples themselves.