ASSESSMENT OF RECENT TRENDS IN CONCENTRATIONS OF ALKYL-LEAD COMPOUNDS IN RAINWATER

Concentrations of tetra-, tri and di-alkyl-lead compounds in rain have been measured at rural and urban sites in England. The measurements are compared with similar data collected in the early 1980s, prior to a 72% reduction in the emission of lead from combustion of leaded petrol. Whilst concentrations of inorganic lead have fallen broadly in line with emissions of automotive lead, alkyl-lead concentrations in rain have fallen by only 50% or less, and thus the ratio of alkyl-lead to inorganic lead in rain has increased appreciably. The reason for this phenomenon is unclear. The data suggest that lead in rainwater would fall to approximately 2 mug dm-3 if automotive lead emissions fell to zero.