About 1400 samples of building stone have been collected in Sweden and
other European countries, mainly from polluted areas but also from co
untryside districts. All samples have been analysed by SEM/EDS, and so
me selected by other techniques like XRPD, GC/MS, or ICP. In particula
r, we have determined concentrations of gypsum, iron and some other me
tals; chlorine, phosphorus, soot (carbon), and organic components. The
results confirm a positive correlation between SO2 concentrations and
gypsum formation on calcareous stone. Polluted areas generate more me
tal particles and particles of soot, asphalt, car-tyre rubber, fly-ash
, quartz calcite, gypsum, and chlorides. On building facades in pollut
ed cities about 100 constituents have been identified, including carci
nogeneous organic compounds like benzopyrene.