Vanadium and nickel in dustfall as indicators of power plant pollution

The elements V and Ni were determined in dustfall (settling particles), airborne dust and in soils at various points in the greater Tel-Aviv area between the years 1973 and 1984. Good correlations were found between measured distribution patterns for V and Ni in dustfall during the summer months and those predicted for settling particles from the Tel-Aviv power station (which burns heavy fuel oil) using a meteorological model based on diffusion from an elevated point source. The distribution patterns for V and Ni in dustfall collected in the Tel-Aviv area were very similar to those previously measured for SO2 and total S compounds. The concentration of V and Ni in soils also conforms to a pattern that points to the power station as a major source of these metals. It is suggested that V and Ni may be used as tracers for measuring the distribution of pollution from oil fired power stations.