Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis Data for 

Cloud-Water Particulate Samples, Mount Bamboo, 

Taiwan, March 22–24, 2002

Open-File Report 2013–1147

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis Data for 

Cloud-Water Particulate Samples, Mount Bamboo, 

Taiwan, March 22–24, 2002

By Neng-Huei Lin, Guey-Rong Sheu, Gregory A. Wetherbee, and Timothy M. Debey

Open-File Report 2013–1147

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

SALLY JEWELL, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2013 

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth,

its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit 

http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS

For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications,

visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod

To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov

Suggested citation:

Lin, N.-H., Sheu, G.-R., Wetherbee, G.A., and Debey, T.M., 2013, Instrumental neutron activation analysis data for 

cloud-water particulate samples, Mount Bamboo, Taiwan, March 22–24, 2002: U.S. Geological Survey OpenFile Report 2013–1147, 12 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1147/. 

Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government. 

Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain

copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be 

secured from the copyright owner. 
iv

Contents

Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1

Introduction................................................................................................................................................................. 1

Purpose and Scope................................................................................................................................................. 2

Methods...................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Cloud-Water Sampling............................................................................................................................................ 3

Filter Analysis by INAA............................................................................................................................................ 5

Quality Assurance....................................................................................................................................................... 5

Data............................................................................................................................................................................ 6

Acknowledgments..................................................................................................................................................... 12

References Cited...................................................................................................................................................... 12

Figures

1. Cloud-water sampling location on summit of Mount Bamboo, Taiwan ................................................................ 2

2. Cloud-water sampler on summit of Mount Bamboo, Taiwan............................................................................... 3

3. Cloud-water filtration apparatus and filtered particulate samples on 0.45-micron filters...................................... 4

Tables

1. Elemental composition data for blank filter samples ........................................................................................... 6

2. Blank-corrected elemental composition of particulates filtered from Mount Bamboo, Taiwan cloud-water 

samples.......................................................................................................................................................... 7
v

Conversion Factors

Multiply By To obtain

Length

centimeter (cm) 0.3937 inch (in.)

meter (m) 3.281 foot (ft)

kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile (mi)

Volume

milliliter (mL) 0.034 ounce, liquid (oz)

liter (L) 1.057 quart (qt)

Mass

microgram (μg) 3.527 x 10-8 ounce, avoirdupois (oz)

milligram (mg) 3.527 x 10-5 ounce, avoirdupois (oz)

gram (g) 0.03527 ounce, avoirdupois (oz)

kilogram (kg) 2.205 pound avoirdupois (lb)

Neutron flux

neutrons per square centimeter per 

second (φ, in n/cm2/s)

No conversion needed

Radioactivity

microCuries (μCi) No conversion needed
vi

Abbreviations Used in This Report

28Al aluminum isotope with atomic mass 28

ASRC Atmospheric Science Research Center (cloud-water collector)

133Ba barium isotope with atomic mass 133

BQS Branch of Quality Systems

cm centimeters

137Cs cesium isotope with atomic mass 137

60Co cobalt isotope with atomic mass 60

DASNCU Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Taiwan

E east

152Eu europium isotope with atomic mass 152

HPGe high-purity germanium

INAA Instrumental neutron activation analysis

keV thousand electron volts

m meters

MeV million electron volts

MFS, Inc. Advantec MFS, Incorporated

mg/L milligrams per liter

micron, (μm) micrometer

mm millimeters

μCi microCuries

μg micrograms

mL milliliters

N north

n/cm2

/s, (φ) neutrons per square centimeter per second 

NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology

USGS United States Geological Survey
1 

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis Data for 

Cloud-Water Particulate Samples, Mount Bamboo, 

Taiwan, March 22–24, 2002

By Neng-Huei Lin1, Guey-Rong Sheu1, Gregory A. Wetherbee2, and Timothy M. Debey2

Abstract

Cloud water was sampled on Mount Bamboo in northern Taiwan during March 22–24, 2002. 

Cloud-water samples were filtered using 0.45-micron filters to remove particulate material from the water 

samples. Filtered particulates were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) at the U.S. 

Geological Survey National Reactor Facility in Denver, Colorado, in February 2012. INAA elemental 

composition data for the particulate materials are presented. These data complement analyses of the 

aqueous portion of the cloud-water samples, which were performed earlier by the Department of

Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Taiwan. The data are intended for evaluation of 

atmospheric transport processes and air-pollution sources in Southeast Asia. 

Introduction

The Department of Atmospheric Sciences at National Central University of Taiwan (DASNCU) has 

conducted atmospheric deposition monitoring on the summit of Mount Bamboo, Taiwan, since 1995. The 

summit of Mount Bamboo is frequently engulfed in clouds (fig. 1) (Lin and Peng, 1999). This makes the 

site conducive to collection of cloud-water samples to measure wet-deposition of atmospheric pollutants by 

cloud-water deposition to the land surface in fog droplets. DASNCU scientists have published results of 

cloud-water deposition on Mount Bamboo to evaluate transport of acid-producing compounds (Lin and 

Peng, 1999), mercury (Sheu and Lin, 2011), and Asian dust (Wang and others, 2010). These studies 

provide information on sources of air pollution and atmospheric transport processes of the pollutants in 

Southeast Asia. 

 Mount Bamboo is located 17 kilometers (km) from the South China Sea coastline of Taiwan, 

inside Yang-Ming-Shan National Park, and north of Taipei City. Coordinates for the site are 25o

11.2’N, 

121o32.1’E (fig. 1). The summit is 1,103 meters (m) above mean sea level. Monsoonal flow, frontal 

passages, and orographic lifting contribute to cloud formation at the summit and make the site conducive to 

cloud-water sampling (Sheu and Lin, 2011). 

 

1

National Central University, Taiwan 2

U.S. Geological Survey
2 

Purpose and Scope 

This report contains data for elemental analysis of solid particles filtered from cloud-water samples 

collected on the summit of Mount Bamboo, Taiwan, during a cloud inundation event during March 22–24, 

2002. These data are presented to contribute to further global study of atmospheric transport of polluted air 

and wet-deposition of air pollutants to the Earth’s surface. On a smaller scale, the data are intended for the 

identification of air-pollution sources and transport processes specific to Southeast Asia. No interpretation 

of the data is provided herein. 

Elemental composition of the filtered particles was measured by INAA using the TRIGA research 

reactor located at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Reactor Facility in Denver, Colorado. 

INAA involves exposure of sample media to a neutron flux provided by a nuclear reactor and is 

advantageous because this analysis does not destroy, or alter, elemental composition. The neutron flux 

activates the elements in the samples, causing them to become temporarily radioactive. Radioactive 

elements that decay by gamma-ray emission are then measured by gamma spectrometry. INAA is 

described in more detail by Alfassi (1990), Landsberger and others (1985) and Koeberl (1993). 

Figure 1. Cloud-water sampling location on summit of Mount Bamboo, Taiwan.

Radioactive isotopes that decay by processes other than gamma-ray emission cannot be measured 

by gamma spectrometry. Other gamma-emitting isotopes have half-lives that are too short for practical 

analysis by gamma spectrometry; therefore, the elemental data presented herein do not describe the 
3 

complete elemental composition of the particulate portion of the cloud-water samples. Though carbon, 

nitrogen, silicon, and sulfur are important constituents in atmospheric particulates (Gilles and others, 1989; 

Pakkanena and others, 2001; Wang and others, 2010), they are not included in the reported results as these 

elements are not easily measured by INAA. After a suitable decay period, the samples may be analyzed 

further for constituents not measured by INAA. 

Methods

Cloud-Water Sampling

Cloud water was sampled at the DASNCU monitoring station on Mount Bamboo using an 

Atmospheric Science Research Center (ASRC)–type passive collector (fig. 2). The collector is described by 

Mohnen and Kadlecek (1989), DeFelice and Saxena (1990), and Saxena and Lin (1990). The ASRC 

collector was mounted 1.6 m above the roof surface of a 2.4-m high building. The ASRC collector was 

deployed at the time of cloud inundation to expose multiple Teflon strings to the ambient atmosphere. 

Sample collection occurred when cloud-water droplets coalesced onto the strings. The condensed droplets 

slid down the strings and were collected into sample bottles via a Teflon funnel and tubing. 

Sequential cloud-water samples were collected over a 40-hour period beginning March 22, 2002 at 

20:00 local time, and ending March 24, 2002 at 12:00 local time. Samples were filtered on site by vacuum 

filtration onto MFS, Inc., 47-millimeter (mm) diameter, 0.45-micron, mixed cellulose ester filters (fig. 3). 

After the samples were filtered, the liquid fraction was stored in plastic sample bottles and preserved at 

4 °

C for later analysis. Filters were stored in clean plastic petri-dishes with plastic covers (fig. 3). Three 

blank filter samples were prepared by rinsing the filters with deionized water, storing both the filters and 

the filtrate for analysis.

Figure 2. (A) Cloud-water sampler on summit of Mount Bamboo, Taiwan, with (B) enlarged view of condensed cloudwater droplets.
4 

Figure 3. (A) Cloud-water filtration apparatus, and (B) filtered particulate samples on 0.45-micron filters in 

chronological order from top left to bottom right.
5 

Filter Analysis by INAA

Particulate samples were stored at a constant relative humidity (RH) of 40 percent for 9 years. Upon 

learning of the filters in the summer of 2011, personnel from the USGS offered to analyze the samples for 

DASNCU using INAA. Filter samples were shipped to the USGS, Branch of Quality Systems, in Denver, 

Colorado, for initial preparation, whereby each sample was placed in an individual ultrapure polypropylene 

vial with snap-seal lid. The vials were labeled with black marker, which is known to contain some trace 

metals. Blank samples were labeled with the same marker for consistency. Samples were then submitted to 

the TRIGA research reactor located at the USGS National Reactor Facility in Denver, Colorado, for INAA 

analyses.

The filter samples were irradiated twice and analyzed by gamma spectrometry three times using the 

USGS TRIGA reactor. The samples were initially irradiated for 30 seconds at a neutron flux of 7.5×1011, 

neutrons per square centimeter per second (n/cm2/s (φ)). This first irradiation on November 18, 2011 was 

followed by a decay period of approximately 10 minutes, and then samples were analyzed through a 

10-minute gamma spectrum collection. This short irradiation and quick analysis helped identify short-lived 

radioisotopes such as 28Al. 

Samples were irradiated the second time on November 29, 2011 for 6 hours at a neutron flux of 

2.5×1012 n/cm2/s (φ). Samples were then allowed to decay for approximately 3 days, then analyzed through 

an 8-hour gamma spectrum collection. The third, and final, gamma spectrum collection of about 1.5 hours 

occurred approximately three weeks later. These longer and more intense irradiations, coupled with the 

longer decay intervals and increased spectrum collection times helped identify and quantify the longer 

lived radioisotopes. 

Gamma spectrometry was accomplished using two high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector 

systems. The first was a Canberra 14 percent relative efficiency detector; the second an Ortec 40 percent

relative efficiency detector. Detector efficiency calibration was performed for the sample-to-detector 

geometries used in this study. The detectors were maintained at -195.73 °C with liquid nitrogen to 

eliminate extraneous thermal noise. A lead shield surrounded the sample and detector to reduce incident 

background radiation. 

Quality Assurance

The energy response calibration was performed using 152Eu check sources. These check sources 

emit a wide energy range of gamma rays, with a useable range from approximately 122 thousand electron 

volts (keV) to 1.528 million electron volts (MeV). Energy calibration checks were performed several times 

during each 8-hour work day to ensure that the gamma peaks remained within 1 keV of the certified values. 

Efficiency calibrations were performed using National Institute of Standards and Technology 

(NIST) traceable calibration standards manufactured by Eckert & Ziegler, Valencia, California. Two 

standards were used for the calibration geometry identical to the filters: (1) 0.5 microCurie (μCi) of 60Co, 

and (2) 0.055 μCi of 137Cs plus 0.575 μCi of 133Ba. Both standards had a geometry identical to the filters to 

ensure similar response. These isotopes cover a gamma energy range from 88 keV to 1,332 keV. The 

efficiency calibrations were performed once at the beginning of the work, and the calibration curves were 

stored in the analyzer’s internal memory. Three blank filter samples were prepared by DASNCU and 

analyzed by INAA. A mean “blank value” was determined for each isotope from these three analyses. The 

cloud-water particulate-sample analyses were subsequently “blank corrected” by subtracting the mean 

blank values from the total amount of each isotope detected in the cloud-water particulate samples, and the 

final results are presented in table 2.
6 

Data

Table 1. Elemental composition data for blank filter samples prepared by Department of Atmospheric Sciences, National 

Central University, Taiwan, and analyzed at the U.S. Geological Survey National Reactor Facility, Denver, Colorado, 

USA. 

[P1-03B_8, P1-07B_D, P1-05_B_; B, blank sample identifier numbers; nd, not detected; -228, -211, -212, -214, -219, isotope 

atomic masses] 

Element

 Mass (micrograms per filter) 

 Mean mass 

 (micrograms per filter) P1-03B_8 P1-07B_D P1-05_B_B

Actinium-228 (

228Ac) nd 5.4×10-11 nd 5.4×10-11

Aluminum 9.7 4.9 46 20

Antimony 0.18 0.12 0.09 0.13

Arsenic 0.13 0.04 0.03 0.07

Bismuth-214 (

214Bi) 2.2×10-12 2.1×10-12 2.1×10-11 8.4×10-12

Bromine 2.3 1.9 3.1 2.4

Cadmium 3.5 27 1.9 11

Cerium 0.08 nd nd 0.08

Chlorine 28 38 35 34

Chromium 0.02 0.41 0.53 0.32

Cobalt 0.26 2.9 3.8 2.3

Copper 175 41 nd 108

Gold 2.7×10-3 1.6×10-3 2.1×10-3 2.1×10-3

Iron 12 13 23 16

Lanthanum 7.6×10-3 1.0×10-2 8.7×10-3 8.8×10-3

Lead-212 (

212Pb) 2.4×10-12 8.4×10-11 7.2×10-10 2.7×10-10

Lead-214 (

214Pb) 2.9×10-12 2.5×10-12 9.5×10-12 5.0×10-12

Manganese 0.12 0.051 1.3 0.49

Mercury 1.4×10-3 nd nd 0.014

Molybdenum 0.32 0.96 0.61 0.63

Nickel nd nd nd nd

Scandium 1.2×10-3 nd 5.6×10-4 8.6×10-4

Sodium nd nd 13 13

Tantalum nd nd nd nd

Tin 1.3 nd nd 1.3

Tungsten 3.1 0.26 0.48 1.3

Uranium nd 3.1 19 11

Vanadium 0.02 0.03 0.07 0.04

Zinc 32 11 9.6 18
7 

Table 2. Blank-corrected elemental composition of particulates filtered from Mount Bamboo, Taiwan, cloud-water samples, collected by Department of 

Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Taiwan, March 2002, and analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis at the U.S. 

Geological Survey National Reactor Facility, Denver, Colorado, USA, August 2012.

[All values are micrograms per filter; -228, -211, -212, -214, -219 isotope atomic masses, <b, measured value less than average blank value; nd, not detected; 

E+##, ×10 to positive exponent ##; E-##, ×10 to negative exponent ##]

Sample 

ID Collection date, time

Element

Actinium228 Aluminum Antimony Arsenic Barium Bismuth211Bismuth214 Bromine Cadmium

1 3/22/2002, 20:00 nd 1.5E+03 4.2E-01 3.2E+00 1.4E+04 1.6E-13 nd 1.5E+00 5.2E+02

3 3/22/2002, 22:00 nd 1.1E+03 5.7E-01 1.2E+01 1.5E+01 nd <b 7.7E+00 1.1E+03

5 3/23/2002, 00:00 4.2E-10 3.0E+02 1.9E-01 2.9E+00 nd 2.0E-13 6.3E-12 1.2E+01 <b

7 3/23/2002, 02:00 nd 1.0E+03 6.2E-01 1.8E+01 3.4E+03 nd <b 1.3E+01 1.1E+03

9 3/23/2002, 04:00 nd 4.0E+03 3.0E-01 6.3E+00 8.2E+02 nd <b 6.4E+00 8.9E+02

11 3/23/2002, 06:00 nd 4.4E+02 9.0E-01 2.3E+01 7.2E+00 nd <b 3.8E+01 2.9E+02

13 3/23/2002, 07:00 nd 7.9E+02 2.0E-01 2.0E+00 5.3E+00 nd <b 1.2E+01 5.8E+02

14 3/23/2002, 08:00 nd 2.9E+02 2.8E-01 8.9E+00 4.7E+00 nd <b 1.3E+01 5.7E+01

15 2/23/2002, 09:00 4.4E-10 5.4E+02 6.5E-01 3.4E+01 1.6E+01 nd 9.6E-12 4.7E+01 nd

16 3/23/2002, 10:00 nd 6.0E+02 8.7E-01 4.5E+01 nd 2.4E-13 <b 3.4E+01 1.1E+03

17 3/23/2002, 11:00 nd 5.5E+03 7.0E+00 2.1E+02 1.1E+05 nd nd 2.4E+01 nd

18 3/23/2002, 12:00 nd 5.3E+03 4.6E+00 1.2E+02 9.7E+04 1.6E-12 nd 1.3E+01 1.4E+04

19 3/23/2002, 14:00 nd 3.1E+03 2.3E+00 1.4E+02 8.2E+04 nd nd 2.6E+01 2.0E+02

20 3/23/2002, 15:00 nd 6.0E+03 1.8E+00 2.9E+01 1.4E+05 nd 7.4E-12 6.2E+00 7.4E+03

21 3/23/2002, 16:00 nd 5.3E+03 2.1E+00 4.7E+01 5.9E+04 nd nd 1.2E+01 5.7E+02

22 3/23/2002, 17:00 nd 1.9E+03 1.9E+00 4.8E+01 1.4E+04 nd 8.9E-12 1.6E+01 2.2E+03

23 3/23/2002, 18:00 nd 1.2E+03 1.1E+00 8.0E+00 1.5E+04 nd <b 2.7E+01 4.1E+02

24 3/23/2002, 19:00 nd 8.0E+02 4.6E-01 3.2E+00 1.1E+05 3.2E-12 <b 7.2E+00 nd

25 3/23/2002, 20:00 nd 6.5E+02 2.6E-01 2.2E+00 4.6E+02 nd <b 1.6E+00 nd

26 3/23/2002, 21:00 3.0E-10 4.1E+02 2.5E-01 2.2E+00 nd 2.7E-13 8.2E-12 4.9E+00 nd

27 3/23/2002, 22:00 nd 4.5E+02 1.1E+00 4.1E+00 5.0E+00 nd <b 7.3E+00 6.0E+02

28 3/24/2002, 00:00 2.9E-10 2.0E+02 7.1E-01 2.9E+00 nd 2.0E-12 7.0E-12 3.0E+01 3.0E+02

29 3/24/2002, 12:00 5.7E-10 4.4E+02 1.3E+00 7.9E+00 nd 1.6E-12 1.1E-11 4.3E+01 4.5E+02

31 3/24/2002, 14:00 nd 2.7E+01 4.8E+00 1.5E+02 1.1E+04 nd <b 6.3E+01 3.2E+03
8 

Table 2. Blank-corrected elemental composition of particulates filtered from Mount Bamboo, Taiwan cloud-water samples, collected by Department of 

Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Taiwan, March 2002, and analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis at U.S. 

Geological Survey National Reactor Facility, Denver, Colorado, USA, August 2012.—Continued

[All values are micrograms per filter; -228, -211, -214, -212, -219 isotope atomic masses; <b, measured value less than average blank value; nd, not detected; 

E+##,×10 to positive exponent ##; E-##, ×10 to negative exponent ##] 

Sample 

ID Collection date, time Element

Cerium Cesium Chlorine Chromium Cobalt Copper Europium Gold Indium

1 3/22/2002, 20:00 1.6E+00 2.5E-01 nd 6.8E+03 1.5E-01 nd 1.3E-02 1.3E-02 nd

3 3/22/2002, 22:00 4.1E+00 2.1E-01 nd 6.8E+03 <b nd 1.0E-02 3.1E-03 nd

5 3/23/2002, 00:00 1.9E-01 nd nd 2.4E+03 3.2E-01 nd nd 8.3E-04 nd

7 3/23/2002, 02:00 1.4E+00 2.5E-01 <b 9.5E+03 <b nd 8.5E-03 2.2E-03 nd

9 3/23/2002, 04:00 1.2E+00 2.3E-01 <b 6.5E+03 7.6E-01 nd 6.4E-03 3.4E-03 nd

11 3/23/2002, 06:00 1.4E+00 9.9E-02 nd 5.6E+03 <b nd nd 3.6E-03 nd

13 3/23/2002, 07:00 5.3E-01 8.9E-02 <b 1.7E+03 1.8E-01 nd nd 3.2E-04 nd

14 3/23/2002, 08:00 7.5E-01 nd <b 3.1E+03 <b nd nd 1.9E-03 nd

15 2/23/2002, 09:00 6.1E-01 1.2E-01 <b 3.7E+03 4.7E-01 nd 8.4E-03 3.2E-03 1.3E+04

16 3/23/2002, 10:00 1.3E+00 1.5E-01 9.1E-01 5.2E+03 <b nd 5.4E-03 1.9E-03 nd

17 3/23/2002, 11:00 1.7E+01 9.4E-01 nd 2.8E+04 1.1E+00 nd nd 1.3E-02 nd

18 3/23/2002, 12:00 1.7E+01 9.0E-01 nd 2.9E+04 8.9E-01 nd 3.5E-02 5.8E-03 nd

19 3/23/2002, 14:00 1.3E+01 1.0E+00 nd 2.7E+04 1.1E+00 nd 5.2E-02 1.0E-02 nd

20 3/23/2002, 15:00 4.2E+00 8.8E-01 nd 2.8E+04 1.2E+00 nd 4.7E-02 2.1E-03 nd

21 3/23/2002, 16:00 1.1E+01 3.7E-01 nd 1.1E+01 7.0E-02 nd 2.5E-02 4.1E-03 nd

22 3/23/2002, 17:00 1.8E+00 3.8E-01 nd 1.2E+04 7.8E-01 nd 1.7E-02 3.5E-03 nd

23 3/23/2002, 18:00 1.9E+00 2.6E-01 nd 8.8E+03 5.1E-01 nd 6.1E-03 6.2E-03 nd

24 3/23/2002, 19:00 7.1E-01 2.4E-01 nd 8.3E+03 3.1E-01 nd nd 8.7E-04 nd

25 3/23/2002, 20:00 6.3E-01 5.3E-02 nd 3.7E+03 <b nd nd 1.8E-03 nd

26 3/23/2002, 21:00 4.1E-01 nd <b 3.3E+03 7.6E-01 nd 3.1E-03 1.2E-03 nd

27 3/23/2002, 22:00 2.0E+00 nd <b 1.9E+03 <b nd nd 1.5E-03 nd

28 3/24/2002, 00:00 3.4E-01 nd <b 2.2E+03 4.7E-01 nd nd 2.4E-02 nd

29 3/24/2002, 12:00 3.2E-01 nd <b 2.8E+03 nd nd 6.7E-03 5.9E-03 nd

31 3/24/2002, 14:00 3.7E+00 2.5E-01 nd 1.6E+03 4.9E-01 nd 2.6E-02 2.0E-02 nd
9 

Table 2. Blank-corrected elemental composition of particulates filtered from Mount Bamboo, Taiwan cloud-water samples, collected by Department of 

Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Taiwan, March 2002, and analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis at U.S. 

Geological Survey National Reactor Facility, Denver, Colorado, USA, August 2012.—Continued

[All values are micrograms per filter; -228, -211, -214, -212, -219 isotope atomic masses; <b, measured value less than average blank value; nd, not detected; 

E+##,×10 to positive exponent ##; E-##, ×10 to negative exponent ##] 

Sample 

ID Collection date, time Element

Iron Lanthanum Lead-212 Lead-214 Manganese Mercury Molybdenum Nickel Radon-219

1 3/22/2002, 20:00 1.1E+03 5.0E-01 <b nd 1.1E+01 3.8E-01 <b 7.7E+00 nd

3 3/22/2002, 22:00 4.2E+02 2.5E-01 <b <b 8.3E+00 4.3E-02 2.0E+00 6.4E+00 nd

5 3/23/2002, 00:00 1.3E+02 1.1E-01 6.5E-10 4.0E-12 2.6E+00 nd 2.8E-01 nd nd

7 3/23/2002, 02:00 3.8E+02 5.1E-01 <b nd 9.5E+00 1.5E-01 1.8E+00 2.0E+00 nd

9 3/23/2002, 04:00 3.9E+02 4.2E-01 <b nd 9.3E+00 1.8E-01 7.7E-01 5.0E+00 nd

11 3/23/2002, 06:00 1.5E+02 1.7E-01 <b <b 3.3E+00 nd 5.5E+00 1.2E+00 nd

13 3/23/2002, 07:00 1.7E+02 2.2E-01 nd nd 4.1E+00 7.8E-02 8.7E-01 3.7E+00 nd

14 3/23/2002, 08:00 1.1E+02 1.6E-01 9.4E-11 <b 1.8E+00 <b 4.3E+00 1.3E+00 nd

15 2/23/2002, 09:00 2.1E+02 2.1E-01 9.2E-10 5.1E-12 3.7E+00 nd 3.0E+00 3.5E+00 nd

16 3/23/2002, 10:00 2.7E+02 4.3E-01 3.9E-10 <b 8.0E+00 9.5E-02 1.3E+01 nd nd

17 3/23/2002, 11:00 2.0E+03 1.9E+00 <b nd 4.2E+01 5.0E-03 nd 7.6E+00 nd

18 3/23/2002, 12:00 1.8E+03 2.3E+00 <b 3.6E-12 4.6E+01 <b 8.0E+00 4.0E+00 nd

19 3/23/2002, 14:00 1.5E+03 2.3E+00 <b nd 4.0E+01 5.3E-01 8.2E+00 5.4E+00 nd

20 3/23/2002, 15:00 1.6E+03 1.4E+00 3.6E-10 6.8E-12 3.5E+01 4.6E-02 1.8E+00 4.8E+00 nd

21 3/23/2002, 16:00 1.0E+03 1.3E+00 <b <b 2.5E+01 1.6E-02 4.9E-01 3.5E+00 nd

22 3/23/2002, 17:00 6.4E+02 7.7E-01 6.7E-10 6.4E-12 1.4E+01 3.2E-03 2.3E+00 nd nd

23 3/23/2002, 18:00 4.3E+02 6.3E-01 nd nd 9.3E+00 1.7E-01 3.1E+00 3.8E+00 nd

24 3/23/2002, 19:00 3.8E+02 4.1E-01 4.9E-10 nd 7.7E+00 1.1E-01 nd nd nd

25 3/23/2002, 20:00 2.4E+02 2.1E-01 <b <b 3.9E+00 <b 5.6E-01 nd nd

26 3/23/2002, 21:00 1.5E+02 1.7E-01 4.5E-10 1.3E-11 3.2E+00 nd 4.4E-01 nd nd

27 3/23/2002, 22:00 1.9E+02 1.3E-01 <b <b 4.9E+00 1.8E-02 <b nd nd

28 3/24/2002, 00:00 7.8E+01 8.7E-02 1.3E-10 <b 2.0E+00 2.1E-02 1.8E+00 1.4E+00 nd

29 3/24/2002, 12:00 9.8E+01 1.5E-01 4.2E-10 2.4E-12 3.5E+00 8.7E-03 1.7E+00 nd nd

31 3/24/2002, 14:00 9.1E+02 1.5E+00 <b 2.6E-11 1.5E+00 1.9E-01 2.4E+01 nd nd
10

Table 2. Blank-corrected elemental composition of particulates filtered from Mount Bamboo, Taiwan cloud-water samples, collected by Department of 

Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Taiwan, March 2002, and analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis at U.S. 

Geological Survey National Reactor Facility, Denver, Colorado, USA, August 2012.—Continued

[All values are micrograms per filter; -228, -211, -214, -212, -219 isotope atomic masses; <b, measured value less than average blank value; nd, not detected; 

E+##,×10 to positive exponent ##; E-##, ×10 to negative exponent ##] 

Sample 

ID Collection date, time Element

Ruthenium Scandium Selenium Silver Sodium Tantalum Tin Tungsten Uranium

1 3/22/2002, 20:00 nd 3.6E-01 2.9E-02 1.0E+02 3.4E+02 1.1E+02 nd 7.6E-01 nd

3 3/22/2002, 22:00 nd 2.8E-01 nd nd 2.5E+02 1.5E+01 2.2E+00 5.4E+00 nd

5 3/23/2002, 00:00 nd 9.9E-02 nd nd 7.8E+01 nd nd 2.0E+00 nd

7 3/23/2002, 02:00 nd 3.4E-01 3.0E-03 nd 2.7E+02 1.5E+01 nd 3.1E+01 nd

9 3/23/2002, 04:00 nd 2.9E-01 nd nd 2.6E+02 1.5E+01 nd 2.1E+00 nd

11 3/23/2002, 06:00 nd 1.2E-01 3.1E-02 nd 1.2E+02 nd nd 1.7E+02 <b

13 3/23/2002, 07:00 nd 1.4E-01 nd nd 1.0E+02 nd nd 3.2E+00 nd

14 3/23/2002, 08:00 nd 8.2E-02 nd nd 5.1E+01 nd nd 6.4E+00 <b

15 2/23/2002, 09:00 nd 1.8E-01 nd nd 1.0E+02 nd nd nd nd

16 3/23/2002, 10:00 nd 2.5E-01 nd nd 1.5E+02 nd nd 2.2E+01 nd

17 3/23/2002, 11:00 nd 1.4E+00 9.0E-01 nd 1.0E+03 3.6E+01 nd nd nd

18 3/23/2002, 12:00 8.7E-01 1.4E+00 5.1E-01 1.8E+02 9.2E+02 5.0E+01 nd 2.0E+01 nd

19 3/23/2002, 14:00 3.1E-01 1.4E+00 2.2E-01 nd 9.6E+02 3.3E+01 nd 3.3E+01 nd

20 3/23/2002, 15:00 nd 1.2E+00 nd nd 7.2E+02 4.1E+01 nd 4.2E+00 2.0E+00

21 3/23/2002, 16:00 4.9E-02 7.5E-01 nd nd 5.7E+02 2.8E+01 nd 7.7E+00 nd

22 3/23/2002, 17:00 1.5E-01 5.8E-01 4.2E-01 nd 3.8E+02 1.6E+01 nd nd <b

23 3/23/2002, 18:00 1.3E-02 3.9E-01 nd 5.8E+02 3.1E+02 3.3E+00 nd 9.6E+00 nd

24 3/23/2002, 19:00 5.8E-02 3.0E-01 2.2E-01 nd 1.8E+02 nd nd nd nd

25 3/23/2002, 20:00 6.9E-02 1.5E-01 2.0E-01 nd 1.1E+02 nd nd <b nd

26 3/23/2002, 21:00 nd 1.3E-01 nd nd 6.7E+01 nd <b <b nd

27 3/23/2002, 22:00 nd 1.1E-01 1.3E-01 nd 6.7E+01 nd nd 2.2E+00 nd

28 3/24/2002, 00:00 nd 5.5E-02 nd nd 2.9E+01 nd nd 1.3E+01 nd

29 3/24/2002, 12:00 nd 9.6E-02 nd nd 9.0E+01 nd nd 2.0E+01 nd

31 3/24/2002, 14:00 3.2E-01 7.5E-01 4.5E-02 3.4E+02 6.2E+01 nd nd nd nd
11

Table 2. Blank-corrected elemental composition of particulates filtered from Mount Bamboo, Taiwan cloud-water samples, collected by Department of 

Atmospheric Sciences, National Central University, Taiwan, March 2002, and analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis at U.S. 

Geological Survey National Reactor Facility, Denver, Colorado, USA, August 2012.—Continued

[All values are micrograms per filter; -228, -211, -214, -212, -219 isotope atomic masses; <b, measured value less than average blank value; nd, not detected; 

E+##,×10 to positive exponent ##; E-##, ×10 to negative exponent ##] 

Sample 

ID

Collection date, time Element

Vanadium Zinc Zirconium

1 3/22/2002, 20:00 2.3E+00 4.4E+01 nd

3 3/22/2002, 22:00 1.8E+00 7.2E+02 nd

5 3/23/2002, 00:00 4.3E-01 <b nd

7 3/23/2002, 02:00 1.6E+00 <b nd

9 3/23/2002, 04:00 3.8E+00 <b nd

11 3/23/2002, 06:00 7.8E-01 <b nd

13 3/23/2002, 07:00 1.1E+00 <b nd

14 3/23/2002, 08:00 5.1E-01 <b nd

15 2/23/2002, 09:00 7.5E-01 <b nd

16 3/23/2002, 10:00 1.1E+00 <b nd

17 3/23/2002, 11:00 8.5E+00 1.4E+01 nd

18 3/23/2002, 12:00 7.6E+00 1.6E+04 nd

19 3/23/2002, 14:00 5.4E+00 2.6E-01 nd

20 3/23/2002, 15:00 7.9E+00 1.5E+03 nd

21 3/23/2002, 16:00 6.3E+00 4.3E+03 1.2E+00

22 3/23/2002, 17:00 2.8E+00 <b 4.4E+01

23 3/23/2002, 18:00 1.8E+00 <b nd

24 3/23/2002, 19:00 1.4E+00 nd 5.3E-01

25 3/23/2002, 20:00 8.8E-01 <b nd

26 3/23/2002, 21:00 5.5E-01 <b nd

27 3/23/2002, 22:00 8.3E-01 5.2E+02 nd

28 3/24/2002, 00:00 2.6E-01 <b nd

29 3/24/2002, 12:00 6.0E-01 <b nd

31 3/24/2002, 14:00 <b <b nd
12

Acknowledgments

The filter samples were analyzed by Brycen Roy, Alex Buehrle, and Chris Farwell of the U.S. 

Geological Survey. Mark Rhodes (Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois), Mark Woodworth, 

George Ritz, and Keith Lucy of the U.S. Geological Survey, improved the quality of this report.

References Cited

Alfassi, Z.B., ed., 1990, Activation Analysis, Volume II: Boca Raton, Florida, CRC Press, Inc., 632 p., 

International Standard Book Number 0-8493-4584-7. 

DeFelice, T.P., Saxena, V.K., 1990, Mechanisms for the operation of three cloudwater collectors: 

Comparison of mountain-top results: Atmospheric Research 25, p. 277–292. 

Gilles, Bergametti, Dutot, A.-L., Buat-Ménard, P., Losno, R., and Remoudaki, E., 1989, Seasonal 

variability of the elemental composition of atmospheric aerosol particles over the northwestern

Mediterranean: Tellus B, v. 41B, no. 3, p. 353–361. 

Koeberl, Christian, 1993, Instrumental neutron activation analysis of geochemical and cosmochemical 

samples: A fast and reliable method for small sample analysis: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear 

Chemistry, v. 168, no. 1, p. 47–60. 

Landsberger, S.J., Jervis, R.E., and Monaro, S., 1985, Trace analysis of wet atmospheric deposition by 

nuclear methods, in Lawrence, J.F., ed., Trace analysis, vol. 4: Orlando, Florida, Academic Press, Inc., 

p. 237–291. 

Lin, N.-H., and Peng, C.-M., 1999, Estimates of the contribution of below-cloud scavenging to the 

pollutant loadings of rain in Taipei, Taiwan: Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, v. 10, no. 4, 

p. 693–704. 

Mohnen, V.A., and Kadlecek, J.A., 1989, Cloud chemistry research at Whiteface Mountain: Tellus B, v. 

41B, no. 1, p. 79–91. 

Pakkanena, T.A., Loukkolaa, K., Korhonena, C.H., Aurelaa, M., Makelaa, T., Hillamoa, R.E., Aarniob, P., 

Koskentalob, T., Kousab, A., and Maenhaut, W., 2001, Sources and chemical composition of 

atmospheric fine and coarse particles in the Helsinki area: Atmospheric Environment, v. 35, no. 32, p. 

5381–5391. 

Saxena, V.K., and Lin, N.-H., 1990, Cloud chemistry measurements and estimates of acidic deposition on 

an above cloudbase coniferous forest: Atmospheric Environment—Part A General Topics, v. 24A, no. 2, 

p. 329–352. 

Sheu, G.-R, and Lin, N.-H, 2011, Mercury in cloud water collected on Mt. Bamboo in northern Taiwan 

during the northeast monsoon season: Atmospheric Environment, v. 45, no. 26, p. 4454–4462, 

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.05.036. 

Wang, S.-H., Lin, N.-H., OuYang, C.-F., Wang, J.-L., Campbell, J.R., Peng, C.-M., Lee, C.-T., Sheu, 

G.-R., and Tsay, S.-C., 2010, Impact of Asian dust and continental pollutants on cloud chemistry 

observed in northern Taiwan during the experimental period of ABC/EAREX 2005: Journal of 

Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, v. 115, no. D7, p. 2156–2202.