Chemical composition of air, soil and vegetation in forests of the Silesian Beskid Moutains, Poland

For the first time concentrations of trace nitrogenous (N) air pollutants, gaseous nitric acid (HNO3), nitrous acid (HNO2), ammonia (NH3), and fine pa rticulate nitrate (NO3) and ammonium (NH4), were measured in the montane fo rests of southern Poland. Determinations were performed in two forest locat ions of the Silesian Beskid Mountains in the western range of the Carpathia n Mountains, and in an industrial/urban location in Karowice, Poland. The m easurements performed in summer 1997 with honeycomb denuder/filter pack sys tems showed elevated concentrations of the studied pollutants. These findin gs agree with the low carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratios and the results of N-15 analyses of soil and moss samples. High concentrations of N air pollutants help to explain previously determined high levels of NO3 and NH4 deposition to Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) canopies in these mountains. Ambient concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O-3) were elevated and p otentially phytotoxic. Deficiencies of phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) in Norway spruce foliage were found while concentrations of other nutrients w ere normal.