Abstract: | This paper summarized the study carried out in Krakow, Poland in 1975-76 on the estimated local air pollution as measured by carbon isotopes and total sulphur measurement in plants. Good correlation was found between δ14C value and the total sulphur (measured by radionuclide excited X-ray fluorescence) in beech leaves collected in the late summer, indicating the common source of both pollutants. Sampling and measurement of σ13C in atmospheric CO2 has shown that σ3C can be used as a pollution indicator only in the winter period when no fluctuations exist ddue to plant respiration. A method of CO2 sampling using molecular sieve proved to be feasible for instantaneous sampling with no isotope fractionation. The highest pollution by fossil CO2 was measured in winter (12.8% excess. During spring and summer the average contribution of fossil CO2 was 4.5 to 5.6%. |