Analysis of 210Pb and 210Po concentrations in surface air by an alpha spectrometric method.

Abstract

A method is presented for determining the concentrations of airborne 210Pb and 210Po. The method employs alpha spectrometry to measure the count rate of 210Po present on an electrostatic filter sample at two post-sampling times. The individual air concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb can be calculated from equations given. Sensitivity of the procedure is about 0.2 fCi 210Po per m3 of air. The method was applied to the study of long-term variations and frequency distributions of 210Po and 210Pb concentrations in surface air at a nonpolluted location about 10 km outside of Munich, F.R.G., from 1976 through 1979. During this period the average concentration levels were found to be 14.2 fCi 210Pb per m3 of air and 0.77 fCi 210Po per m3 of air, respectively.