Identification of biological dusts by elemental analysis

The feasibility of identifying, by microscopial and X-ray techniques, the biological source of cotton plant dusts produced from individual plant parts was determined. Major elements observed were magnesium, aluminum, silicon, sulfur, chlorine, potassium, and calcium. Some plant parts were distinguished by variations in elemental content. The most characteristic elements were potassium and calcium. Relative peak heights of elemental spectra were used to identify the plant part from which the dust was derived.