COMPARATIVE-EVALUATION OF SOME POLLUTANTS IN THE AIRBORNE PARTICULATEMATTER IN EASTERN AND WESTERN-EUROPE - 2-CITY STUDY, BUCHAREST-STUTTGART

An exemplary comparative evaluation is presented of the measurements o f some elements contained in airborne particulate matter, carried out during 1 year (1993-94) at two locations in Eastern and Western Europe (Bucharest and Stuttgart). Seventeen environmentally relevant element s: As, Ba, Br, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, Sb, Se, V and Zn, were measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and/ or by X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRFA). The absolute and relative me an air pollution levels for this period are discussed. They are genera lly higher at Bucharest than Stuttgart, but to very different degrees. The seasonal variations give hints at the possible air pollution sour ces at the two locations. The calculated correlations between elements reveal quite different 'relationship' patterns for Bucharest and Stut tgart. The influence of the meteorological conditions is also taken in to account. In order to relate pollution levels to deposition rates an attempt was made to use grass specimens, grown and exposed under stan dard conditions (Scholl), as bioaccumulators. The results are discusse d in detail. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.