Sulphur dioxide

Monitoring data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

monitoring data

Type of information:

other: Review

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

4 (not assignable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: This monitoring data is part of a review paper on forest decline research in the Federal Republic of Germany. It is a secondary source and is therefore given a Klimisch reliability rating of 4. No data is provided on material and methods.

Cross-reference

Reason / purpose for cross-reference:

reference to other study

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline available

GLP compliance:

not specified

Type of measurement:

background concentration

Media:

other: Air and biota (Norway spruce needles)

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Sulphur dioxide

EC Number:

231-195-2

EC Name:

Sulphur dioxide

Cas Number:

7446-09-5

Molecular formula:

SO2

IUPAC Name:

Sulphur dioxide generated from sulphur by combustion

Results and discussion

Any other information on results incl. tables

At mean air concentrations of 26 µg/m3 and 17.5 µg/m3, the S content in the needles was measured to 1550 mg/kg dw and 1150 mg/kg in the years 1978 and 1985, respectively (values taken from a graph).

The results of continuous measurements of SO2 in the atmosphere show high SO2 pollution in northeastern Bavaria just in the corner where the FRG, the German Democratic Republic and Czechoslovakian borders meet; however the SO2 load in southern Bavaria is negligible.

(The S concentrations in spruce needles,as monitored along a grid pattern in Bavaria, exactly reflect the SO2 pollution with elevated concentrations in northeastern Bavaria, and very low levels in southern Bavaria as well as in southern parts of BadenWuerttemberg [2,54].)

The averageSO2 concentrations in the atmosphere (as well as the S contents in the spruce foliage) in Bavaria, continuously decreased from 1978 to 1985 [54]. (See Attached Figure 1.)

The monitoring of Sulfate-S in the throughfall of spruce forests in southern Germany also revealed a considerable regional variation, ranging from 12 to 60 kg/ha. [22]

In the central Alps of the Tyrol, where serious defoliation occurs, the S deposition is even smaller [60] and consequently, the S concentrations of spruce needles there are at a very low level.

In contrast the deposition of S in throughfall in the Solling area in northern Germany amounts to 80 kg/ha.a, but the beech and spruce stands there are rather healthy.