Atmospheric deposition of acid, heavy metals, dissolved organic carbon and nutrients in the dutch Delta area in 1980–1986

In a 7-year programme established to investigate the deposition of pollutants from the atmosphere, wet precipitation samples were collected in specially designed wet-only samplers at two sampling stations in the Delta area of The Netherlands. The measured concentrations of the ecotoxic heavy metals Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni and Co, the nutrients NH 4 +, NO 3 − and SO 4 2− and the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in rain water and snow are presented. Investigation of the cationic and anionic composition of the wet precipitation at Yerseke in 1986 is also discussed and compared with results from other sampling locations in The Netherlands. In addition, a comparison with the results obtained as part of a larger sampling programme throughout West Germany is discussed.