The elemental composition of individual particles is commonly measured by using energydispersive spectroscopic microanalysis (EDS) of samples excited with electron beam irradiation. Similarly, several investigators have characterized particles by using external monochromatic X-irradiation rather than electrons. However, there is little available information describing measurements of particulate characteristic X rays produced not from external sources of radiation, but rather from internal radiation contained within the particle itself. Here, we describe the low-energy (< 20 KeV) characteristic X-ray spectra produced by internal radiation self-excitation of two general types of particulate samples; individual radioactive particles produced during the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident and radioactive fused aluminosilicate particles (FAP). In addition, we compare these spectra with those generated by conventional EDS.Approximately thirty radioactive particle samples from the Chernobyl accident were on a sample of wood that was near the reactor when the accident occurred. Individual particles still on the wood were microdissected from the bulk matrix after bulk autoradiography.