EVOLUTION OF ATMOSPHERIC LEAD OVER THE NORTHWESTERN MEDITERRANEAN BETWEEN 1986 AND 1992

The use of lead as an additive in petrol decreased in Europe from the 1970s and particularly from 1988 in France. It is attempted in this pa per to evaluate the impact of such a decrease on a northwestern Medite rranean coastal environment. The atmospheric Pb concentrations measure d at Cap Ferrat in 1986 and 1987 are compared with the 1991-1992 resul ts (aerosol + rainwater) obtained at the same sampling site. The 50% d ecrease in the leaded gasoline consumption is expressed by Pb levels r educed of 24 and 30% in aerosol and rainwater, respectively. This decr ease of Pb concentrations in the atmospheric aerosol is up to 2-fold h igher in urban areas, where airborne Pb is almost totally due to autom otive exhaust. Indeed, most of anthropogenic Pb should deposit close t o its emission area.