Atmospheric concentrations of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb in Urban Area in Kuwait

The present study focused on the determination of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb natural radionuclides in the ground surface air in urban areas in Kuwait over a year. Five high volume air sampler (HVAS) systems equipped with five-stage cascade impactors were utilized to collect air samples on weekly basis. Glass fiber air filters with different fraction sizes have been assembled and prepared for ²¹⁰Pb, ²¹⁰Po, and uranium analysis. ²¹⁰Pb was determined by ultra-low background gamma spectrometry system, while ²¹⁰Po and uranium isotopes were determined by radiochemical separation and alpha spectrometry. The average ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb activity concentrations were 0.77 ± 0.07 and 1.1 ± 0.04 mBq/m³, respectively, while the uranium concentration was below the detection limit (2 μBq/m³). The activity ratio of ²¹⁰Po/²¹⁰Pb was close to unity, reflecting potential access of anthropogenic sources such as local resuspension dust, long-range transport of aerosols by northwesterly winds, oil industries, local/regional power generating stations, and sea salt aerosols.