Aerosol samples of PM10 particulates were examined with particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE and micro-PIXE ), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, and X-ray absorption fine structures (XAFS) to investigate atmospheric Pb concentrations and its chemical species and to decide the source assignment. From the elemental analyses, lead concentrations were averaged at 369 and 237 ng.m-3 in ...

Multi element analysis of homogenised samples taken from three different areas of a single human liver was performed for 18 elements by proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE). Small (10--20%) but statistically significant variations between the element contents of these areas were found for Cl, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb and Mo. These differences are not parallel to each other. The variation of el...

Several radioactive particles from the Palomares area have been analyzed with the nuclear microprobe of the National Accelerator Centre (CNA) in Seville exploring the advantages of combining -PIXE using a 5.5MeV 4He beam with conventional -PIXE analysis using 3MeV protons. The measurements performed with the -particles are more sensitive to the sample surface, while the results collected with p...

A method is described for assessing occupational exposures to chromium aerosols; it involves four procedures. The first, proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE), measures the total chromium. The second, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), measures the oxidation state of the particle surfaces, and the third, which uses sym-diphenylcarbazide (DPQ, measures the proportion of water-sol...

Aerosols play an important role in the atmosphere but are poorly characterized, particularly in urban areas like the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA). The chemical composition of urban particles must be known to assess their effects on the environment, and specific particulate emissions sources should be identified to establish effective pollution control standards. For these reasons, sampl...

For several years, the specific features of PIXE and PIGE have made them very attractive in the field of archaeometry. Among them, non-destructivity is one of the most important. The possibility of working under atmospheric pressure is also important because of the very different shapes and sizes of the artefacts concerned. However, these ion beam techniques suffer from the same disadvantage: t...

Forensic anthropologists use various methods to determine the type of weapons used in cases involving a dismembered body. For this study PIXE (particle-induced x-ray emission) analysis was performed on samples taken from pieces of pig bone cut with three different hacksaw blades. The analysis was used to determine if the blades left any elemental residue on the bone. When the results of the PIX...

Simple methods for the determination of elements in biological fluids have been developed. It is important to quantify accidental incorporation radionuclides during decommissioning work at nuclear power plants. Herein, we proposed simple preparations and uranium concentrations urine microbeam scanning particle induced X-ray emission (µ-PIXE) analysis a rat model. A droplet (1 µL) mixed solution...