Measurements of 210Pb concentrations in air in Astana city

Abstract

The article is devoted the results of measuring the radioactivity of 210Pb in the air of the Astana city for October 2017 and describes the air sampling method using a high volume sampler. Together with scientists from Hiroshima University (Hiroshima, Japan) and Tsukuba University (Tsukuba, Japan), the composition of aerosols in the air in Astana was monitored. The project is a pilot project. The aim of the project is to develop a methodology for sampling aerosols in various fractions and making measurements on an ongoing basis. The studies were carried out using a high-volume an air sampler and a cascade of impactors that measure the size distribution and breathable mass fraction of airborne particles. Filters made of fiberglass were also used, which are often used for collection of samples. The data obtained in the study of aerosol samples, using a cascade of impactors allowing to select aerosols up to 0.49 μm, showed the content of lead isotope in the air of the city. The smaller the transmission gap, the more particles are trapped. On average, aerosols were collected from more than 200,000 cubic meters of air.