5.2 Project design for metals
This was a limited study designed to determine regional concentrations of these metals and to indicate if any further work is warranted.
Samples were collected for a total of four days from mid-August to early September 2000, when concentrations were expected to be high because of the still weather conditions. Particles up to 10 micrometres in diameter (known as `PM10') were collected and analysed.
Samples were collected over 24-hour periods using a high-volume sampler with a PM10 inlet on a one-day-in-six cycle. This technique draws air through a pre-weighed filter paper at a fixed rate for the 24 hours. The filter papers were recovered, reweighed, a portion digested in nitric acid and the digested sample sent to the CSIRO for analysis by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy to determine the concentration of each target metal.
There were eight measuring sites in the Sydney-Newcastle-Wollongong area:
- Sydney CBD
- Rozelle
- Earlwood
- Blacktown
- Richmond
- Newcastle CBD
- Wollongong CBD
- Albion Park.
Page last updated: 26 February 2011
