Concentrations of ethene and formaldehyde at a valley and a mountain top site in the Austrian Alps

Ethene and formaldehyde concentrations were measured at two forest sites (valley, mountain top) in the Achen Valley (Austrian Alps, Tyrol) during three campaigns in 2001 and 2002. During the June/July campaign mean concentrations of ethene were above 9 ppbv at the valley station and 1.9 ppbv at the mountain top site; lower ethene concentrations were observed at the valley site during the April (1.4 ppbv) and the May campaign (3.1 ppbv). As 9 ppbv is the effect-related limiting value (= concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere, above which direct adverse effects on receptors may occur according to the present knowledge) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences for plants (1997) we found that ethene levels in valleys may come close to the limiting value. Formaldehyde concentrations were far below the effect-related limiting value of 16 ppbv. On the basis of the actual knowledge, ethene could be relevant as a phytotoxic component in alpine valleys.