Abstract
Recently, several micro-analysis techniques have been developed which can advantageously be applied to particulate environmental samples to complement measurements made by traditional bulk analysis methods. Automated electron probe X-ray microanalysis in combination with multivariate numerical analysis can, in a relatively short time, provide information about the major and minor elemental chemical composition of large numbers of aerosol and aqueous suspension particles. Relevant particle types can thus be identified and their behaviour can be followed as a function of time, location, wind direction or depth. In addition, laser microprobe mass analysis can yield complementary knowledge about the trace element distribution over the various particle types and, in some cases, about the particle surface layer characteristics. The potential and limitations of these methods are illustrated in applications to aerosol particles from the North Sea and the Amazon Basin, to particles from the sea surface microlayer, and to aqueous suspension particles from the Baltic Sea.
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