Distribution of 212Pb, 214Pb and 210Pb with its daughter products on aerosol fractions from Vienna and Badgastein (Austria)

Abstract

Aerosols were collected with cascade impactor devices and the activity concentrations of 210Pb, 210Bi and 210Po were measured by liquid scintillation counting. In samples collected near to the laboratory also 212Pb and 214Pb could be determined. The activity concentrations, their particle size distributions and the calculated aerosol ages are discussed with regard to the prevailing weather conditions. Special emphasis is given to the fact, that excess 210Po occurs not only in urban, but also in rural environments and that it is mainly found on particles with very small diameters (0.15-0.30 µm).