AEROSOL STUDIES OF URBAN AREAS OF LAHORE USING PIXE

Abstract

Because of high traffic density, bad sanitary conditions and other human activities, the urban areas of Lahore have become highly polluted. Very simple and quick method for the survey of aerosol over a large area is described. Freefall aerosol settled on the tree leaves picked from roadside of twelve localities of Lahore was collected and analyzed for seventeen trace elements down to g / g level by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE). The investigation shows that the cleaner residential areas have much less concentration of trace elements of anthropogenic origin. Lead ( Pb ) has been detected in the areas of heavy traffic and close to the factory area, however, it is difficult to trace its origin because the gasoline used in Pakistan is unleaded.