Multielemental analysis of ambient air dust particulates from a cement factory by neutron activation

Ambient air dust particulate samples collected from six different locations in the areas surrounding a cement factory in central India were analysed for 30 elements (Ag, As, Au, Ba, Br, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Ga, Hf, Hg, In, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Rb. Sb. Sc. Se, Sm, Ta, Th, Yb and Zn) by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Samples were irradiated at a thermal neutron flux of 1012 ∼ 1013 n cm−2 s−1 in the APSARA/CIRUS reactor at Bombay for 10 min, 1 h, 6 h and 1 week followed by counting on an HPGe detector and 4 K MCA. Several standards such as coal fly ash (SRM 1633a), urban particulate matter (SRM 1648) (from NIST, USA); vehicle exhaust and pond sediment (from NIES, Japan) and a USGS standard rock BCR-1 were also analysed for quality assurance. Wide differences have been observed in elemental concentrations of As, Br, Co, Cr, Fe, Se and Zn in dust particulates collected from different locations depending on its distance from the factory. A comparison of the data with mean elemental concentrations of fugitive dust collected from different locations of the same factory shows significant differences in Ba, Cs, Se, As, Mn and Br contents.