Relationship between pollution transport rates at Lobith and Maassluis

The International Rhine Committee (IRC) observed that the pollution transport rates of the Rhine at Lobith and at Maassluis were not equal. The Maassluis pollution transport rates reported by the Dutch government, within the framework of the Oslo-Paris Committee (OSPARCOM) are systematically lower than those at Lobith. The Dutch delegation has taken the initiative to conduct further research into the relationship between annual pollution transport rates at Lobith and Maassluis. This report gives a description of the relevant processes in the Dutch part of the Rhine basin, followed by an indication of how a mass balance of contaminants has been established for the Lobith-Maassluis section. The principles of the mass balance and the data applied are given.