Abstract European countries have made progress in reducing particulate air pollution in recent decades being concerned about their heath and climate effect. In addition to determining particulate number size distributions, it is crucial to have a methodology to determine size distribution of elemental concentrations down to the ultrafine size fraction. The present study shows capabilities for combination of May-type cascade impactor sampling and laboratory total-reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis on ambient aerosol samples taken in urban areas of Budapest (Hungary) and Cassino (Italy). In addition, results for a sample collected in Budapest during the fireworks provided for the Hungarian National Day are discussed. The combined novel method is suitable for determining size distributions for major and trace elemental concentrations form ultrafine to coarse particles (70 nm up to 10 μm) in seven size fractions. Moreover, short sampling times (1–4 h) are sufficient for reaching detection limits in the range of 100 pg/m3 for transition metals. The size and time resolution were found to be optimal for identifying pollution episodes with elevated elemental concentrations. The in-the-field analytical applicability of the proposed method for major and trace elements is demonstrated by comparison to elemental size distributions resulted from destructive analytical techniques.

中文翻译：

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全反射 X 射线荧光分析在人口稠密地区追踪细小和超细气溶胶粒子的现场能力的实验评估

摘要 近几十年来，欧洲国家在减少颗粒物空气污染方面取得了进展，关注其健康和气候影响。除了确定颗粒数尺寸分布之外，还必须有一种方法来确定元素浓度的尺寸分布，直至超细粒度部分。本研究显示了对在布达佩斯（匈牙利）和卡西诺（意大利）城市地区采集的环境气溶胶样本进行五月型级联撞击采样和实验室全反射 X 射线荧光分析相结合的能力。此外，还讨论了在为匈牙利国庆节提供的烟花期间在布达佩斯收集的样本的结果。组合的新方法适用于确定主要和痕量元素浓度的尺寸分布，从超细到粗颗粒（70 纳米至 10 微米），分为七个尺寸部分。此外，较短的采样时间（1-4 小时）足以达到 100 pg/m3 范围内的过渡金属检测限。发现大小和时间分辨率对于识别元素浓度升高的污染事件是最佳的。通过与破坏性分析技术产生的元素尺寸分布进行比较，证明了所提出的方法对主要和痕量元素的现场分析适用性。较短的采样时间（1-4 小时）足以使过渡金属达到 100 pg/m3 范围内的检测限。发现大小和时间分辨率对于识别元素浓度升高的污染事件是最佳的。通过与破坏性分析技术产生的元素尺寸分布进行比较，证明了所提出的方法对主要和痕量元素的现场分析适用性。较短的采样时间（1-4 小时）足以使过渡金属达到 100 pg/m3 范围内的检测限。发现大小和时间分辨率对于识别元素浓度升高的污染事件是最佳的。通过与破坏性分析技术产生的元素尺寸分布进行比较，证明了所提出的方法对主要和痕量元素的现场分析适用性。