Unit

Air Pollution &

Plant Analysis

In Austria, chemical plant analyses to determine the air pollution impact was first used around the turn of the century. From 1955 to 1980 some 7 % of the forested areas in the neighborhood of industrial facilities were analyzed. In 1975 chemical plant analysis was laid down in the Forest Act as a tool to determine air pollution impact. The Second Ordinance against Forest-Damaging Air Pollutants (1984) stipulates air quality limit values.
By regulating plant analyses by law, which is unparalleled in Europe, it was possible to actually enforce plant analysis.

Today, plant analyses provide basic information for forest-related expert opinions to support Provincial Forest Authorities in the course of legal actions in accordance with the Mining Act, the Waste Management Act and the Industrial Law including Environmental Impact Assessment.

Austria participates in the pan-European Forest condition monitoring program ICP-FORESTS. On the intensive monitoring plots deposition of air pollutants, element fluxes and nutrient cycling is monitored. For these purpose chemical analyses of deposition (rain, snow), litterfall, ground vegetation, needles and leaves and passive samplers (ozone) are performed.

Priority Areas of Work