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Masaya Ikegawa,¹ Mieko Kimura,¹ Kazuto Honda,² Kazuo Makita,³ Yoshiyuki Fujii,⁴ Yoshinori Itokawa⁵

¹Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Environmental Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; ²Perkin Elmer Japan, Osaka, Japan; ³Takushoku University, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo, Japan; ⁴National Institute of Polar Research, Tokyo, Japan; ⁵Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, International Health, Kyoto, Japan

Abstract
Drifting snow samples were collected at Asuka Station (71°32'S, 24°08'E, 930 m above sea level) over a period from July to December 1991 ; 36 elements (including Na, Mg, K, Ca, Fe, Al, Li, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Se, Rb, Sr, Cd, Pb, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Th) in snow were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) by direct sample introduction. Concentrations of Cl^-, NO₃^-, and SO₄^2- in the snow were also determined by ion chromatography. In late September to early October, there was a pronounced peak concentration of most of the elements together with non-sea salt sulfate. Enrichment factor analyses suggest that Na, Mg, Ca, K, and Sr are of marine origin and Al, Fe, Mn, Rb, Cr, Ni, Ga, V, and all the rare earth elements are of crustal origins. Volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo (June 1991) and Mt. Hudson (August 1991) could be the reason for the precipitation of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Se together with non-sea salt sulfates in the austral spring at Asuka Station. Key words: Antarctic snow, Cl^-, enrichment factor, ICP-MS, NO₃^-, SO₄^2-, trace metals, volcanic eruption. Environ Health Perspect 105:654-659 (1997)

Address correspondence to M. Kimura, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Environmental Medicine, Yoshida-konoe-cho 606-01, Sakyoku, Kyoto City, Kyoto, Japan.

We thank all the members of 32nd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition, especially the Winter-over group at Asuka Station, for their help and encouragement to our research.

Received 16 October 1996 ; accepted 5 February 1997.