Quantitative elemental determination of the particulate matter in the atmosphere of Pachuca city and the Real del Monte village, Hidalgo by means of PIXE technique

All the pollutants that are generated so much of anthropogenic activities as natural cause effects to the health, and of course its increase the atmospheric pollution. Today in day for the great advance of the technology other pollutants are even generated but noxious to the human being's health, such it is the case of the particles, which are also called particulate matter airborne (MPA). This has motivated, to establish control measures leaning in collection strategies and certified analysis techniques, accurate and reliable. In the National Institute of Nuclear Research (ININ) they have been carried out studies on particulate matter airborne. In 1991 it was installed, calibrated and validated the nuclear technique of atomic origin based on proton beams known as PIXE. The characterization of the (MPA) it is carried out applying this technique and the collection by means of Dichotomous collectors (SFU). The thesis work that is presented next, includes the topic of the atmospheric pollution by particulate matter airborne (MPA) in a mining region, inside the Hidalgo State. The study was carried out during the 1998 winter season, only embracing the whole month of March in alternate days giving a total of 112 samples. Two sites that are highly active in the mining were studied, these are: the Real del Monte town and the Hidalgo state capital: Pachuca. Four samples per day were collected beginning to the 7:00 am--7:00 pm (daytime period) and concluding to the 7:00 pm -7:00 am (nocturne period). The characterization of its elementary content is carried out using the X-ray emission induced by particles technique (PIXE) that is a nuclear technique able to analyze 23 chemical elements beginning from the Al to the Pb, it requires of a very small sample quantity, it is very sensitive and it is not destructive. This characterization one carries out so much for fraction PM2.5 (fine) like as PM10 (thick) in both sites, also it was analyzed the temporary variation that the chemical elements detected in the samples present in the atmosphere and it was determined for each particle fraction the enrichment factor, all them during the daytime and nocturne periods. The document is removed in 5 topics, the topic I refers to the foundations, in them that is the MPA and the introduction to the PIXE technique is presented; the topic ll is the methodology used for the samples characterization, using the introduction of the technique and instrumentation of the same one, as well as the mathematical process for the determination of the concentrations of the detected elements, also approaches the analysis programs used for the concentration determination; the topic III, it presents the results discussion, the topic IV the conclusions and lastly the topic V it includes the recommendations with base to the obtained results, its are also presented the carried out consultations and the annexes for both sites, these last ones include charts of results, graphic of temporary variation, location map of the sites and enrichment factor graphics. (Author)