Analysis of metals in particulate matter suspended in air by total reflection x‐ray fluorescence

• Published in: X-ray spectrometry Vol. 52; no. 6; pp. 423 - 429
• Main Authors: Almeida, Ana Paula F., Santos, Ramon S., Ferreira, Gabriel C., Nardes, Raysa C., Sanches, Francis. A. C. R. A., Filho, Hamilton. S. Gama, Leitão, Roberta G., Anjos, Marcelino J., Lopes, Ricardo T., Oliveira, Davi F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bognor Regis Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.11.2023
• Subjects: Biomass burning; Chemical compounds; Chromium; Contaminants; Copper; Flora; Fluorescence; Metal concentrations; Metropolitan areas; Motor vehicles; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Vehicle emissions
• ISSN: 0049-8246; 1097-4539
• DOI: 10.1002/xrs.3378

Abstract Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) is considered to be a set of pollutants suspended in the air, from industrial processes, motor vehicle exhaust, resuspended street dust, biomass burning, and others. Among the toxic chemical compounds, PM is considered contaminants of great importance for researchers, as they offer harmful effects to humans, fauna and flora. Moreover, exposure to PM can cause the development and/or worsening of diseases, mainly respiratory and cardiovascular. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the metals concentration in total suspended particulate matter in the air through total reflection x‐ray fluorescence technique (TXRF). The samples were collected from random points in five neighborhoods in the Metropolitan Region of the state of Rio de Janeiro/Brazil. TXRF measurements were performed using the benchtop TXRF spectrometer S2 PICOFOX. The results showed that the proposed methodology was able to detect the elements Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn, in concentrations ranging from 2.0 to 200 ng.m −3 . It can be concluded that the study methodology for determining the metal concentrations in air samples is an efficient and low‐cost solution for studying environmental pollution.