Study of size distribution and elemental composition of environmental aerosols with nuclear track microfilters, electron microscope and electron microprobe

Environmental aerosols in a working place with nuclear facilities have been collected with a cascade nuclear track microfilter. The size distribution of the aerosols has been measured with a scanning electron microscope and their elemental compositions analyzed with an electron microprobe and x-ray spectroscopy. The study shows that the nuclear track microfilter, electron microscope and electron microprobe comprise an excellent set of instruments excellent for studying aerosols. Two groups of aerosols have been shown to be present in the air sampled. One group consists of radioactive particles, the other of conventional dust particles. The study also shows that a nuclear track microfilter can be used to remove radioactive and non-radioactive aerosols from air in working environments. (author)