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To characterize the physical and chemical properties of the individual aerosol particles during Asian dust storm in Japan, micro-PIXE technique was applied in this study. Aerosol particles were sampled in Kyoto, Japan from the middle of March to the end of April 1999. Mass concentration in Asian dust storm events was roughly 3-5 times higher than that of the highest concentration measured in non-Asian dust storm seasons. Single particles were generally sharp-edged and irregular in shape and contained mostly crustal elements such as Si, Fe and Ca. Although in soils of the desert and loess areas in northwest of China S and Cl were not detected, significant concentrations of S and CI were detected in coarse fraction during Asian dust storm event. Nearly all single particles in the coarse fraction existed as a mixed state of soil components and S. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.