TRACE ELEMENTS CONTENT IN THE RESPIRABLE FRACTIONS OF THE AIR PARTICULATE OF URBAN AND RURAL AREAS MONITORED BY NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS

摘要

Trace elements (TE) represent a part of the potentially toxic agents contained in the atmospheric particulate deriving from the air pollution processes. The industrial activity, the energy production, the urban waste incineration and the automotive exhaust are the main responsible for their release in the air, which in urban areas may reach warning pollution levels. The monitoring of trace elements content in air particulate matter of highly populated cities and urban areas is object of many studies devoted to evaluate their concentrations and to control the air quality standards.