Elemental analysis of air dust from Zacatecas City, Mexico

The concentration of 25 elements in air dust particulate matter collected in 27 sites distributed along Zacatecas City in Mexico was determined using instrumental neutron activation analysis. The objective of the study was to characterize the elemental composition in the particulate matter. The concentration range (in μg/g) of the measured elements was as follows: As (3.99 – 63.1); Ba (240 – 4330); Br (1.56 – 23); Ce (22.1 – 187); Co (4.86 – 39.9); Cr (54.9 – 184); Cs (2.24 – 19.7); Eu (0.21 – 0.88); Fe (10 600 – 37 400); Hf (1.46 – 6.31); Hg (0.34 – 12.2); K (2600 – 15 600); La (3.84 – 84.8); Na (2070 – 10 800); Rb (24.1 – 120); Sb (6.21 – 20.9); Sc (3.14 – 16.1); Se (< 0.5 – 2.28); Sm (0.13 – 3.83); Sr (< 100 – 942); Ta (0.16 – 0.84); Tb (