Unit
Air Pollution &
Plant Analysis
In Austria, chemical plant analysis was first used to determine the impact of air pollutants around the turn of last century. From 1955 to 1980, about 8 % of the forested area were analysed, typically in the vicinity of industrial facilities. In 1975, chemical plant analysis was laid down as a tool to determine impact of air pollution in the Forest Act. The Second Ordinance on Forest Damaging Air Pollutants (1984) stipulates limit values for air quality. This regulation, which is unique in Europe, allowed a wide use of plant analysis in practice.
Plant analyses today provide the basis for forest-related expert opinions supporting Provincial Forest Authorities during legal actions in accordance with the Mining Act, Waste Management Act, and the Industrial Law including environmental impact assessments.
The Austrian Bio-Indicator Grid informs annually about the impact of air pollutants and the nutritional status for the entire forest area. On intensive monitoring plots (ICP-FORESTS), chemical analysis of deposition (rain, snow) records influx of acids and pollutants. Moreover, input of elements by litterfall is analysed.
Priority Areas of Work
- Chemical analysis of needle, leaf, or litter samples, as well as ground vegetation and wood (tree ring) samples for various elements
- Austria-wide biomonitoring program (Austrian Bio-Indicator Grid) to determine spatial and temporal variation of impact of air pollutants and nutrient supply
- Preparation of expert reports to support forest authorities
- Leading the European Forest Foliar Coordinating Centre (FFCC) for leaf and needle analysis in the framework of UN/ECE ICP-FORESTS.
- Databank management and evaluation of European proficiency tests for the ICP-Forest network; coordination, execution and evaluation of the proficiency test for leaf and needle analysis
- Analysis of deposition in samples from precipitation collectors on intensive monitoring plots (Level II) in the European ICP-Forests network