Abstract
Atmospheric particles were sampled and fractionated according to their size by a cascade impactor in Berlin, capital city of Germany, on the Brocken, peak of the Harz mountains and on the Szrenica peak in the Giant mountains, Republic Poland. The fractionated particles were collected on small graphite targets and subsequently analyzed by ETV-ICP-MS. Distribution curves were measured showing trace-metal contents in air versus the aerodynamic particle diameter for the elements Pb, Ag, Cd and Tl. Despite good element correlation, the distribution curves differ significantly for the three sampling locations. The limits of detection for the elements of concern were in the pg/m3 range at a sampling time of 4 h. An attempt was made to determine single particles: in urban aerosols a content was found of 1 · 10–13 g Tl and 9 · 10–13 g Ag in single particles of the size fraction < 7.5 μm and > 3.45 μm.
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Received: 16 December 1996 / Revised: 24 June 1997 / Accepted: 26 June 1997
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Lüdke, C., Hoffmann, E. & Skole, J. Determination of trace-metal concentrations in size-classified atmospheric particles by ETV-ICP-MS. Fresenius J Anal Chem 359, 399–403 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002160050596
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002160050596