Paths of Air Pollutants Containing Radioactive Nuclides in the Suburban Area of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece

Received: July 31, 2010
Revised: July 31, 2010
Accepted: July 31, 2010
Download Citation: RIS|BibTeX|https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2010.02.0008  

Cite this article:
Papastefanou, C (2010). Paths of Air Pollutants Containing Radioactive Nuclides in the Suburban Area of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. Aerosol Air Qual. Res. 10: 354-359. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2010.02.0008

ABSTRACT

The atmospheric behavior of ⁷Be-aerosols in association with atmospheric pollutants was studied by using 1-ACFM Andersen type cascade impactors. The activity of ⁷Be, a radionuclide of cosmogenic origin, determined by gamma-ray spectrometry (E_γ = 0.477 MeV), was largely associated with submicron aerosol particles in the accumulation mode (0.4–2.0 μm). The activity median aerodynamic diameter (AMAD) of 7Be-aerosols ranged from 0.62 to 1.00 μm (average 0.80 μm). The geometric standard deviation, σ_g ranged from 1.87 to 2.50 (average 2.22). Low AMAD values of ⁷Be-aerosols have been observed at locations characterized with relatively low pollution. Some dependency of AMADs on height from the ground surface varied from zero to 1201 m has also been observed with high AMAD values in zero height where the pollution was high and low AMAD values in high elevation where the pollution was low. In near marine environment where the airport is located, an area with additional pollution, the activity size distribution of ⁷Be-aerosols was observed in higher size range of aerosol particles (0.82–0.90 μm).

Keywords: Radioactive aerosols; Air samplers; Ambient Air