Thanks for taking the time to post on our blog. If you are wanting to measure airborne lead particles, you will probably not want to use a laser particle counter due to the fact that it will only count particles and has no way of determining the substance of the particles.

You can however detect lead particle by either gathering samples on a filter media and sending samples to an ELLAP (Environmental Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program) lab to determine if lead is present or to use a portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) machine. I would suggest reading some of the following articles that pertain to airborne testing for lead and other toxic metals.

Practicality of Using air Lead Measurements by Portable X-Ray Fluorescence to Manage Worker Protection Programs

Emerging Portable X-ray Fluorescence Technology for Measuring Multiple Airborne Metals: An Evaluation of A Battery Powered X-Ray Tube Instrument

History of XRF – Timeline of X-ray Physics and X-ray Spectrometry (1951 – present)

 
As for radioactive particles, if you simply wanted to measure particle that you know are radioactive and know the quantity and size, you can use a particle counter (nobody will accept it back for service though). Keep in mind that no particle counter will tell you if the particles are radioactive or not. You may be better off sampling the particles into a filter and then measuring for radioactive contamination.

SEE: Analytical Techniques for Environmental Particles
I hope this information helps. If you have any questions, please feel free to post them here. We also invite others to join in this discussion.

Also there has been an inquiry to provide “radioactive airborne” sampling over a nuclear reactor.

I would appreciate any assistance as I know nothing of these processes.

Your’s Sincerely,
EMMETT O’BRIEN