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Previous analyses at the European scale have shown that cadmium and lead concentrations in mosses are primarily determined by the total deposition of these metals. Further analyses in the current study show that Spearman rank correlations between the concentration in mosses and the deposition modelled by the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) are country and metal-specific. Significant positive correlations were found for about two thirds or more of the participating countries in 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 (except for Cd in 1990). Correlations were often not significant and sometimes negative in countries where mosses were only sampled in a relatively small number of EMEP grids. Correlations frequently improved when only data for EMEP grids with at least three moss sampling sites per grid were included. It was concluded that spatial patterns and temporal trends agree reasonably well between lead and cadmium concentrations in mosses and modelled atmospheric deposition.

The ICP Vegetation is an international programme that reports on the effects of air pollutants on natural vegetation and crops [1]. It reports to the Working Group on Effects (WGE) of the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP). In particular, the ICP Vegetation focuses on the following air pollution problems: quantifying the risks to vegetation posed by ozone pollution and the atmospheric deposition of heavy metals and nitrogen to vegetation. In addition, the ICP Vegetation is taking into consideration impacts of nitrogen on vegetation (including interactions with ozone), consequences for biodiversity and the interactions between air pollutants and climate change. At the 23rd Task Force Meeting we will report on the achievements of the ICP Vegetation in 2009, in particular regarding progress made with items to be reported to the WGE in 2010 [2]: • Ozone biomonitoring experiment with bean in 2009; • Ozone impacts in Mediterranean areas; • Ozone flux modelling methods and their application to different climatic regions; • Outcome of workshop on ‘Flux-based assessment of ozone effects for air pollution policy’; • Progress with European heavy metals and nitrogen in mosses survey 2010/11; • Relationship between heavy metal concentration in mosses and EMEP modelled deposition. In addition, we will discuss the contribution of ICP Vegetation to the common workplan items of the WGE for 2010 [2]. Apart from looking back to our achievements in 2009, throughout the Task Force Meeting we will be discussing our future plans, in particular the medium-term workplan of the ICP Vegetation (2011 – 2012).

The ICP Vegetation is an international programme that reports on the effects of air pollutants on natural vegetation and crops [1]. It reports to the Working Group on Effects (WGE) of the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP). In particular, the ICP Vegetation focuses on the following air pollution problems: quantifying the risks to vegetation posed by ozone pollution and the atmospheric deposition of heavy metals and nitrogen to vegetation. In addition, the ICP Vegetation is taking into consideration impacts of nitrogen on vegetation (including interactions with ozone), consequences for biodiversity and the interactions between air pollutants and climate change. At the 23rd Task Force Meeting we will report on the achievements of the ICP Vegetation in 2009, in particular regarding progress made with items to be reported to the WGE in 2010 [2]: • Ozone biomonitoring experiment with bean in 2009; • Ozone impacts in Mediterranean areas; • Ozone flux modelling methods and their application to different climatic regions; • Outcome of workshop on ‘Flux-based assessment of ozone effects for air pollution policy’; • Progress with European heavy metals and nitrogen in mosses survey 2010/11; • Relationship between heavy metal concentration in mosses and EMEP modelled deposition. In addition, we will discuss the contribution of ICP Vegetation to the common workplan items of the WGE for 2010 [2]. Apart from looking back to our achievements in 2009, throughout the Task Force Meeting we will be discussing our future plans, in particular the medium-term workplan of the ICP Vegetation (2011 – 2012).

In recent decades, mosses have been used successfully as biomonitors of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals. Since 1990, the European moss survey has been repeated at five-yearly intervals. Although spatial patterns were metal-specific, in 2005 the lowest concentrations of metals in mosses were generally found in Scandinavia, the Baltic States and northern parts of the UK; the highest concentrations were generally found in Belgium and south-eastern Europe. The recent decline in emission and subsequent deposition of heavy metals across Europe has resulted in a decrease in the heavy metal concentration in mosses for the majority of metals. Since 1990, the concentration in mosses has declined the most for arsenic, cadmium, iron, lead and vanadium (52–72%), followed by copper, nickel and zinc (20–30%), with no significant reduction being observed for mercury (12% since 1995) and chromium (2%). However, temporal trends were country-specific with sometimes increases being found. Since 1990, heavy metal concentrations in mosses have declined in Europe for most metals

High time resolution aerosol mass spectrometry measurements were conducted during a field campaign at Mace Head Research Station, Ireland, in June 2007. Observations on one particular day of the campaign clearly indicated advection of aerosol from volcanoes and desert plains in Iceland which could be traced with NOAA Hysplit air mass back trajectories and satellite images. In conjunction with this event, elevated levels of sulphate and light absorbing particles were encountered at Mace Head. While sulphate concentration was continuously increasing, nitrate levels remained low indicating no significant contribution from anthropogenic pollutants. Sulphate concentration increased about 3.8 g/m3 in comparison with the background conditions. Corresponding sulphur flux from volcanic emissions was estimated to about 0.3 TgS/yr, suggesting that a large amount of sulphur released from Icelandic volcanoes may be distributed over distances larger than 1000 km. Overall, our results corroborate that transport of volcanogenic sulphate and dust particles can significantly change the chemical composition, size distribution, and optical properties of aerosol over the North Atlantic Ocean and should be considered accordingly by regional climate models.

Atmospheric heavy metal deposition in northern Europe including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and adjacent areas of Russia was monitored using the moss technique. The concentrations of heavy metals in moss are closely correlated to atmospheric deposition. Samples of the mosses Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens were collected in the summer of 1990. The total concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, V and Zn were analysed. Results are presented in the form of coloured contour maps. The regional deposition pattern for all metals shows a decreasing gradient from relatively high values in southern parts of Scandinavia to low values towards the north. The gradient is steep for Cd, Pb and V, but weaker for Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni and to some extent Zn. Pb originates from anthropogenic emission sources and is found in lower concentrations in the arctic regions of Svalbard and Iceland. Conversely, Cr, Cu, Fe and V, originating from soil dust or volcanic activity, are found in high concentrations in sparsely vegetated arctic regions. Important local enhancements of the concentrations in moss were found superimposed on the background pattern in northern Sweden at the Ronnskar smelter, in Norway at Odda, in Finland at the Harjavalta smelter and the Tornio steel mill, and in Russia in the western part of the Kola peninsula, especially near smelting plants. The deposition pattern in the Baltic region is due to long-range transport and local sources. Compared with previous similar studies, a significant decrease was found in the concentration of most elements, especially in Denmark, southern Norway and Sweden, as well as Finland, except for eastern Lapland., Atmospheric heavy metal deposition in northern Europe including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and adjacent areas of Russia was monitored using the moss technique. The concentrations of heavy metals in moss are closely correlated to atmospheric deposition. Samples of the mosses Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens were collected in the summer of 1990. The total concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, V and Zn were analysed. Results are presented in the form of coloured contour maps. The regional deposition pattern for all metals shows a decreasing gradient from relatively high values in southern parts of Scandinavia to low values towards the north. The gradient is steep for Cd, Pb and V, but weaker for Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni and to some extent Zn. Pb originates from anthropogenic emission sources and is found in lower concentrations in the arctic regions of Svalbard and Iceland. Conversely, Cr, Cu, Fe and V, originating from soil dust or volcanic activity, are found in high concentrations in sparsely vegetated arctic regions. Important local enhancements of the concentrations in moss were found superimposed on the background pattern in northern Sweden at the Ronnskar smelter, in Norway at Odda, in Finland at the Harjavalta smelter and the Tornio steel mill, and in Russia in the western part of the Kola peninsula, especially near smelting plants. The deposition pattern in the Baltic region is due to long-range transport and local sources. Compared with previous similar studies, a significant decrease was found in the concentration of most elements, especially in Denmark, southern Norway and Sweden, as well as Finland, except for eastern Lapland.