Airborne Particulate Matter

Airborne Particulate Matter (APM)

The continued concern regarding environmental pollution has long since  triggered the development of analytical techniques for monitoring  atmospheric gases to assess the impact of industrial and anthropogenic activities.  The elemental composition of airborne particles, such as metals that have an adverse impact on human health and the environment,  can be monitored to identify an emission source and its impact.  The characterization and quantification of metals in aerosols can be performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).  This powerful and versatile analytical tool determines the multi-elemental and isotopic trace concentrations in any type of sample- liquid, solid and gaseous.

The use of a gas exchange device [1] allows direct analysis of airborne particles by ICP-MS.  Owing to its fast and multi-elemental detection capabilities, the icpTOF is particularly well suited for such on-line multi-element analysis. Similarly as in single-particle ICP-MS, airborne particles produce short transient signals recognizable as spikes above the baseline, which can then be quantified using adequate calibration. Useful information regarding airborne pollution can be extracted such as particle elemental composition, size and concentration.

[1]  Nishiguchi, K.; Utani, K.; Fujimori, E. Real-time multielement monitoring of airborne particulate matter using ICP-MS instrument equipped with gas converter apparatus. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 2008.  https://doi.org/10.1039/B802302F