Major ions and trace elements composition of rainwater around the two industrial areas of Milazzo and Priolo Gargallo (Sicily - Italy)

Abstract

This database shows the concentration of major ions and trace elements in rainwater from two polluted industrial areas of Sicily, Milazzo and Priolo Gargallo, collected from June 2018 to July 2019, through a network of 11 bulk collectors to sample bulk atmospheric deposition, for a total of 131 samples collected. Different sources, both natural and anthropogenic, for both major ions and trace elements have been recognised. This study also highlighted some critical issues with common methods of sampling and analysing atmospheric deposition. The analysis and comparison of two different aliquots, filtered and unfiltered rainwater, has shown that the filtration method removes from the sample a substantial part of the total deposition, the insoluble fraction, leading to an underestimation of the final deposition rate.