Lead emission evaluation over the European part of the former Soviet Union

An evaluation of the emission distribution of lead is necessary to determine lead impact on natural ecosystems. Vehicles are a major source of atmospheric lead which is contained in gasoline as an added material. We have calculated lead emissions from the combustion of vehicle fuel over European regions which were formerly part of the USSR (FSU). Statistical data concerning gasoline consumption in each province of territory in 1988 was obtained. The European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) network with cells of 150 × 150 km on polar stereographic maps was used as a basis to present results. We calculated that the annual lead emission from auto transport in 1988 was 15 000 tons; values vary from 3 tons/cell in the northern region to 100–150 tons/cell in the Central and Ukrainian regions. The amount of industrial airborne lead published by the USSR State Statistical Committee in 1988 is much lower. Total lead emission over the European part of the FSU is lower by a factor 2 or 3. This seems to correspond to differences in transport intensity and industrial grouping.