The first results of studying atmospheric aerosol samples from the Middle Urals using a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometer are considered. The aerosol sampling by the aspiration method on KFBZh and AFA filters is discussed. The difficulties in carrying out mass spectrometry "directly", that is, without preliminary sample preparation, are analyzed. On the basis of the results of mass spectrometry and optical microscopy of the filter surface, further prospects of their use for sampling aerosol microparticles are considered.