Abstract: An important part of the European cultural heritage is composed of hand-written documents. Many of these documents were drawn up with iron-gall ink. This type of ink present a serious conservation problem, as it slowly oxidizes ('burns') the paper it is written on, thereby gradually disintegrating the historic document. Acid hydrolysis of the cellulose and/or the oxidation of organic compounds promoted by radical intermediates that are formed due to the presence of Fe2+ ions are considered to be the cause of the disintegration. mu-XANES measurements were performed with a lateral resolution of 30-50 mum in order to determine the local Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio in 19th C. documents from the Austrian National Archives and fragments of 16th C documents from the Polish National Library. In the 19th C documents, no significant amount of Fe2+ was detected. On the other hand, in the 16th C fragments, significant amounts of Fe2+ and appreciable differences in distribution of Fe2+ and Fe3+ within individual letters/ink stains were observed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Between 15 January and 26 February 1987, 51 fine and coarse mode aerosol samples were collected at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile Planetarium using a dichotomous sampler. The samples were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence for up to 17 elements (Mg, Al, Si, P, S, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br and Pb). Aerosol particles were individually studied by Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) and Laser Microprobe Mass Analysis (LAMMA). The data set consisting of aerosol elemental concentrations and meteorological variables was subjected to Principal Factor Analysis (PFA), allowing the identification of six fine mode particle source classes (soil, industrial, sulfate particles, traffic, residual oil, wood-burnings), and five coarse mode particle source classes (soil, industrial, traffic, residual oil, sulfate particles). Both PFA solutions explained about 81 and 90% of the total variance in the data set, respectively. The regression of elemental mass concentrations on the Absolute Principal Factor Scores allowed the estimation of the contribution of the different source classes to the Santiago aerosol. Within the fine fraction, secondary SO42− particles were responsible for about 49% of the fine mode aerosol mass concentration, while 26, 13, 6.4 and 5.6% were attributed to wood-burning/car exhausts, residual oil combustion, soil dust/metallurgical, and soil dust/wood-burning releases, respectively. The coarse fraction source apportionment was mainly dominated by soil dust, accounting for 74% of the coarse mode aerosol mass concentration. A composite of soil dust and industrial release accounted for 13%; a composite of secondary sulfates contributed with 9%; a composite of soil dust and automotive emissions, and secondary sulfates were responsible for 4 and 0.03% of the coarse aerosol mass concentration, respectively. EPMA results are in satisfactory agreement with those from the bulk analysis and allowed the identification of eight particle types in both fine and coarse mode aerosols, pertaining to different source classes, namely soil, seaspray, secondary SO42−, metallurgical emissions and biomass burning release. EPMA also evidenced that one of the most abundant particle types corresponded to marine aerosol, having an average diameter of 0.7 μm for the fine mode and 2.2 μm for the coarse mode aerosol. LAMMA results indicate that, in fact, seaspray has been transported into the city of Santiago de Chile airshed, suffering several transformations and a sulfur enrichment. This analytical technique also provided evidence of the abundance of carbon-rich particles, which were not detected by either the bulk X-ray analysis or EPMA; they are probably due to fossil-fuel combustion releases.

Abstract: Trace elements found in aerosols were monitored in Jerusalem during the 1979 winter season utilizing an X-ray fluoresence technique. Most of the particulate mass was associated with the natural soil elements, such as Ca, Fe, K and Ti. Only a small fraction of the mass was comprised of elements clearly emitted from human sources, e.g. Pb, Br, V, Ni and Zn. An excellent correspondence was found between the enrichment factors observed in this study and those postulated for other parts of the world. However, the concentration of Ca and Sr in the Jerusalem suspended dust is substantially higher when compared with world averages of urban aerosols.

Abstract: River sediments from all of the major drainage basins (except the Indus) in the Indian sub-continent were collected and analysed by thin-film X-ray fluorescence technique (XRF) to determine their chemical composition. On the basis of analysis of more than 120 samples, average chemical compositions of river-borne sediments from the Indian sub-continent have been calculated. Also, average concentration values for sediments from each of the river basins, and the sub-continent average and the inter-basin differences are discussed in relation to weathering processes in the drainage basins. Comparisons have been made with the chemistry of sediments from the Bay of Bengal (which receives the bulk of sediments delivered by Indian rivers). Our observations are discussed in the light of average chemical composition of world-river sediments and the world surface rock exposed for continental weathering.

Abstract: Dry deposition velocities have been calculated using three different approaches. Turbulent wind profile theory has been used to predict the drag coefficient, wind speed and friction velocity at 10 m height when the wind speed is measured at a higher altitude. The resulting parameters were introduced in a two-layer deposition model. The second approach was the well-known model of Slinn and Slinn (1980, Atmospheric Environment 14, 1013-1016), whereas the third corresponded to the model published by Williams (1982, Atmospheric Environment 16, 1933 1938). Results point to clear differences. However, in a field experiment carried out at the Southern Bight of the North Sea, all three approaches show relatively comparable results. The role played by the size distribution of atmospheric particulate matter is essential. In our case any of the three models could have given satisfactory outcomes taking into account the wide spread of the experimental results cited in the literature for the same airshed.