7Be to 210Pb concentration ratio in ground level air in Belgrade area

Abstract

7Be to 210Pb concentration ratios in ground level air on two monitoring stations (MS1 and MS2) in Belgrade area were determined from 1996 to 2001. The average monthly concentrations of 7Be in ground level air were in the range of 0.6–18.3 mBq/m 3 and exhibited one or two summer/early fall maxims and one minimum in winter. The maximum concentrations for 210Pb were generally observed in the fall, with the average concentrations in the range of 1.09 × 10 −4 to 30.9 × 10 −4 Bq/m 3. The 7Be/ 210Pb ratios were in the range of 1.7–12.7 (MS1) and 1.8–11.3 (MS2), with summer maxims and late fall/winter minimums. The mean Radionuclides Loading Indices values approach zero except for 1996/1997 (MS1) and 2001 (MS2) due to higher concentrations of 7Be and 210Pb. The mean monthly concentrations of both radionuclides exhibited lognormal distributions. There is significant correlation between the 7Be/ 210Pb activities ratio and the air stability classes A+B+C for both monitoring stations (correlation coefficients 0.61–0.65), and no correlation with D class and E+F classes. Correlation was found between the activity of 7Be and air stability classes A+B+C (0.46–0.68), and E+F (0.38 for MS1), while for 210Pb, a moderate correlation (0.38–0.40) was found with the E+F air stability classes.