Analytical Sciences

Multielemental Characterization of Airborne Particulate Matter Collected in Bucharest and Tokushima by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry

Tomoki YABUTANI,* Yumi NAKAMOTO,* Ryoji YAMANOUCHI,* Le Thi Xuan THUY,* Kei-ichiro MURAI,* Junko MOTONAKA,* Mitsuharu OGAKI,* Madelene Anette DANCILA,** Rodica STANESCU,** and Marinela PLESCA***

*Department of Chemical Science and Technology, Institute of Science and Technology, The University of Tokushima, 2-1 Minamijosanjima, Tokushima 770-8506, Japan
**Department of Inorganic Technology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Industrial Chemistry, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Bucharest 011061, Romania
***Regional Environmental Protection Agency of Bucharest, Aleea Lacul Morii, No1 Bucharest 060841, Romania

Airborne particulate matter (PM) collected in Bucharest (Romania) and Tokushima (Japan) was comprehensively characterized through multielemental analysis by ICP-MS to the PM samples. Prior to an elemental characterization of the sample, a multielemental determination method composed of acid digestion (HClO₄/HNO₃/HF or H₂O₂/HNO₃/HF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry/inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-MS/ICP-AES) was established to analyze a certified reference material of vehicle exhaust matter (NIES No. 8) for verifying the method. As the results, 39 elements in the certified reference material could be determined. They were a good agreement with the certified and reference values for HClO₄/HNO₃/HF acid digestion. Chalcophile elements, such as cadmium, antimony, and lead in Bucharest showed higher enrichment factors than those in Tokushima.

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