development of loads of cations, anions, Cd and Pb in precipitation and of atmospheric concentrations of N-components, in Switzerland from 1988 to 2003

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 138; no. 1-3; pp. 207 - 218
• Main Authors: Thöni, Lotti, Seitler, Eva, Meier, Markus, Zürcher, Fritz, Hertz, Jürg
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01.03.2008; Springer Netherlands; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural practices; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air pollution; Ammonia - analysis; Anions; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Calibration; Catalytic converters; Cations; Chlorides - analysis; Dust - analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecosystems; Ecotoxicology; Emission control equipment; Emission measurements; Emissions; Emissions control; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Gasoline; Heavy metals; Incineration; Incineration plants; Industrial plant emissions; Long-term measurements; Metals - analysis; Mineral oils; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nitrates - analysis; Nitric Acid - analysis; Nitrogen; Nitrogen Dioxide - analysis; Pollutants; Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution; Pollution; Precipitation; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - analysis; Rain - chemistry; Studies; Success; Sulfates - analysis; Sulfur dioxide; Switzerland; Trucks; Wet and dry deposition; Switzerland; Europe; Air pollution; Nitrogen; Wet and dry deposition; Long-term measurements; Cadmium; Sulfur compounds; Atmospheric fallout; Nitrogen compounds; Long term variation; Wet deposition; Dry deposition; Time variation; Inorganic cation; Inorganic anion; Lead; Concentration distribution
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-007-9791-2

This study presents the results of the analyses of Cd, Pb, cations and anions present in precipitation and dust at a pre-alpine and a suburban site in Switzerland in the period from 1988 to 2003. The aim of these measurements was to monitor the success of measures taken to diminish pollutant emissions. No change was found for Ca²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ loads - in line with expectations, as no reducing measures had been taken. Statistically significant and largely decreasing values (50-90%) were found for Cl- and Cd (linked to the fitting of filters in incineration plants), Pb (unleaded petrol), [graphic removed] (diminishing the use of mineral oil with high S content), and the proton (lower HCl and SO₂ emissions). A smaller decrease (up to 30%) or none was registered for oxidised nitrogen components (fitting cars with catalytic converters, but an increase in numbers of cars and trucks). No significant change was found for NH₃ as farming techniques had undergone no major changes. The long-term measurements show that the measures taken to reduce emissions were successful. A shorter monitoring period would have been misleading owing to data variability and temporary incidents e.g. amount of precipitation.