air pollution

Air Pollution and
Atmospheric Chemistry

atmospheric chemistry

Below are checklists of Air pollution and atmospheric chemistry on postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.). Catalog numbers, years of issue, and notes on the items featured are given when available. If readers know of additional information or images, please contact the authors using the e-mail addresses at the bottom of this page.

Launch covers
(including anniversary-of-launch covers, and launch-related event covers)
(farther below)
Other postal items
(stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.)
(immediately below)
(References to)
Air pollution and air quality
(References to)
Air pollution and air quality
Fossil fuel burning
Atmospheric chemistry
Acid rain
Smog
Health effects Health effects
Ozone
(in an atmospheric chemistry context)
Ozone
(in an atmospheric chemistry context)
Aerosols2,4 Aerosols2,4


Below is a list of Air pollution and atmospheric chemistry on postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.).

CountryCatalog NumberType of ItemYear of IssueNotes on Content
(References to) Air pollution and air quality
This section contains philatelic items that include general references to air pollution and air quality and that do not fit into any of the other tables below.
BelgiumNone(Pictorial) cancel on cover1974"Against environmental pollution" (including air pollution) (in French and Dutch)
Germany (West)1468 (Mi1291)1986Augsburg Cathedral stained glass window damaged by air pollution
Greece1288-1231 fdc (Mi1287-1290 fdc)(Purple and black printed) cachet on FDC1977Air pollution choking Earth
Netherlands729 (Mi771)1974No more atmospheric lead (Pb) pollution; also other atmospheric pollutants from gasoline
Netherlands729-730 fdcOne of two stamps and (NVPH) cachet on FDC
Spain3826 (Mi4668)2012"No contaminar el aire" ("don't pollute the air")
Spain3826 fdcStamp on FDC (Spanish Post/S.F.C.- 2012 cachet)
Spain3826 card (Mi4668 card)Printed stamp (like 3826) on postal card2012"No contaminar el aire" ("don't pollute the air")
Spain4508 (Mi5529)From MS6 (4508a (6x 4508))2021Air pollution (symbolized by Earth with a gas mask)
Spain4508 fdcStamp and (pictorial) cancel and (Spanish Post /S.F.C. 2021) cachet on FDC
UN (New York)
UN (Geneva)
Unknown labelOne label from MS10 (5 UN stamps + 5 labels, and 5 UN-Geneva stamps + 5 labels), also MS10 CTO2023"La chasseresse de fumée" (female action hero chasing away the smoke, which can be interpreted to refer to fighting air pollution); the UNPA Philatelic Bulletin for this MS says that the "chasseresse" is "Fume Fighter - defender of clean air and protecting the atmosphere from bad fumes"
United States1410 fdc1 (Mi1012 fdc1)(Fleetwood green and black and grey) cachet on FDC1970"fight the creeping decay of our land, air and waters"
United States1410 fdc2 (Mi1012 fdc2)(Fleetwood orange and black and grey) cachet on FDC
United States1411 fdc (Mi1013 fdc)(Fleetwood red and black and grey) cachet on FDC
United States1412 fdc (Mi1014 fdc)(Fleetwood green and black and grey) cachet on FDC
United States1413 (Mi1015)One of block of 4 (1413a (1410-1413)) (Mi1012-1015)1970"Save Our Air"
United States1413 fdc1Stamp on FDC (SCCS cachet)
United States1413 fdc2Stamp and (Sarzin metallic) cachet on FDC
United States1413 fdc3Stamp and (Sarzin metallic) cachet (different) on FDC
United States1413 fdc4Stamp and (Fleetwood orange and brown and grey) cachet on FDC
United States1413 fdc5Stamp and (Fleetwood blue and black and grey) cachet on FDC
United States1413 fdc6Stamp and (ArtCraft) cachet on FDC
United States1413 fdc7Stamp and (Virgil Crow) cachet on FDC
United States1413 fdc8Stamp and (Artmaster) cachet on FDC
United States1413 fdc9Stamp and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC
United States1413 fdc10Stamp and (silk) cachet on FDC
United States1413 fdc11Stamp and (Colonial Cachet) cachet on FDC
United States1413 fdc12Stamp on FDC (blank/no cachet)
United States1413 fdc13Stamp and (cyan printed) cachet on FDC
United States1413 fdc14Stamp and (HOC) cachet (with 1413 stamp) on FDC
United States1413a fdc1One of four stamps on FDC (multi-color printed cachet)
United States1413a fdc2One of four stamps and (Artmaster) cachet on FDC (small-font cancel)
United States1413a fdc3One of four stamps and (Artmaster) cachet on FDC (large-font cancel)
United States1413a fdc4One of four stamps and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC
United States1413a fdc5One of four stamps and (Cover Craft Cachets) cachet on FDC, also insert
United States1413a fdc6One of four stamps and (HF) cachet on FDC
United States1413a fdc7One of four stamps and (Artopages) cachet on FDC
United States1413a fdc8One of four stamps and (San Clemente CA, Western White House) cachet on FDC
United States1413a fdc9One of four stamps on FDC (multi-color printed cachet)
United States1413a fdc10One of four stamps and (black printed) cachet on FDC
United States1413a fdc11One of four stamps on FDC (Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission cachet), also insert
United States1413a fdc12One of four stamps and (ArtCraft) cachet on FDC
United States1413a fdc13One of four stamps and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC
United States1413a fdc14One of four stamps and (SCCS) cachet on FDC
United StatesSP264(USPS) stamp poster (1413a) (canceled block of four stamps)
United StatesSP264 unofficial(USPS) stamp poster (1413a) (single canceled stamp)
United States2951 fdc (Mi2553 fdc)(Mystic Stamp Company) back of FDC, also front1995"prevention of pollution" and "control pollution" (including air pollution)
United States2953-2954 fdc (Mi2555-2556 fdc)(PCS) cachet on FDC on souvenir card"to ensure that future generations enjoy clean air, water and land"
United States3189a fdc1 (Mi3225 fdc1)(Fleetwood) cachet on FDC, also back1999Air pollution symbolized by the gas mask; also "Clean Air and Clean Water Acts" (in text on the back)
United States3189a fdc2 (Mi3225 fdc2)(Multi-color printed) cachet on FDC"pollution of air, water and soils"
Fossil fuel burning
This section contains philatelic items that depict fossil fuel burning (such as industrial smokestacks and vehicle exhaust) in the context of the theme of air pollution or an explicit or implicit environmental theme such as World Environment Day or other related themes such as "preserving the environment" or a "clean environment". If they also refer explicitly or implicitly to climate change, global warming, carbon, CO2, etc, they are found in the Anthropogenic Climate Change page.
Azerbaijan1227b (Mi1446)One of MS4 (1227 (a-d)) (BL222, Mi1445-1448)2019Smokestack emissions and pollution versus a rainbow in a clean environment
Belgium865 (Mi1759)1974Smokestack emissions depicted as an idealized unpolluted environment with clean air
Belgium865 maxiMaxicard
Belgium865 sc1Souvenir card
Belgium865 sc2Souvenir card (different)
Belgium865 sc3Souvenir card (different)
Belgium865 fdc1Stamp and (l'Association internationale des Amis de Robert Schuman) cachet on FDC
Belgium865 fdc2Stamp on FDC (Belgium Post cachet)
Belgium865 fdc3Stamp on FDC (Conseil de l'Europe cachet)
Belgium865 fdc4Stamp on FDC (Conseil de l'Europe cachet, different)
Belgium865 fdc5Stamp on FDC (Conseil de l'Europe cachet, different)
Brazil1747 (Mi1831)One of block of four (1748a (1745-1748)) (Mi1829-1832)1981"Environmental protection - air" (in Portuguese text)
Brazil1748a fdc1One of block of four and (pictorial) cancel on FDC (Rio cancel; Brasil Post cachet)
Brazil1748a fdc2One of block of four and (pictorial) cancel on FDC (Sao Paulo cancel; Brasil Post cachet)
Burundi1122 (Mi2565-2568)MS4 (a-d)2012Smokestacks and "Pollution de l'air"
Burundi1142 (BL237)SS1
Central African RepublicMi7355One of MS4 (Mi7355-7358)2017"Fossil fuel [burning] air pollution" (in French text)
Chile1178b (Mi1776)One of MS4 (1178 (a-d)) (Mi1775-1778)1996
Chile1178a-b fdcOne of two stamps on FDC (Correos de Chile cachet), also back
Chile1178 brochureBrochure
Ghana1166 (Mi1336)1989WED3: "industrial pollution" (of the atmosphere)
Great Britain1466 (Mi1417)1992"Bird of Hope" in the context of industrial pollution (on stamp and the cachet of the Fleetwood GB 1466 FDC); industrial smokestacks in the cachet of the Cotswold & Stuart FDC
Great Britain1466 fdcStamp and (Fleetwood) cachet on FDC (Edinburgh cancel), also back
Great Britain1466 card(Royal Mail) PHQ card back, also front
Great Britain1463-1466 fdc1One of four stamps on FDC (Howletts, Canterbury cancel, Royal Mail cachet)
Great Britain1463-1466 fdc2One of four stamps on FDC (Stockport cancel, Royal Mail cachet)
Great Britain1463-1466 fdc3One of four stamps on FDC (Twickenham cancel, Royal Mail cachet)
Great Britain1463-1466 fdc4One of four stamps and (Cotswold & Stuart) cachet on FDC (Poole, Dorset cancel)
Great Britain1463-1466 fdc5One of four stamps on FDC (Edinburgh cancel, Fleetwood cachet), also back
Great Britain1463-1466 fdc6One of four stamps and (Mercury) cachet on FDC (Poole Dorset cancel), also back
Guinea-BissauMi4423One of MS5 (Mi4420-4424)2009"[Air] pollution" (in Portuguese text)
Guinea-BissauMi4423_ss1SS1 (Mi4423)
Korea (South)1583 (Mi1621)From booklet of 10 (1584a (10x 1584)) with booklet front2019Symbolic capture of air pollution from fossil fuel burning in the context of environmental protection (on stamp and booklet front)
Korea (South)1594G (Mi1621C)Coil stamp
Korea (South)2407a (Mi2941)One of block of 4 (2407 (a-d)), or from MS8 (2x (2407 (a-d))) (Mi2939-2942), or from MS8 with control number, or from MS8 with different border2013Symbolic reduction of atmospheric pollution (and greenhouse gases) from industrial emissions
Korea (South)2407a fdcStamp on FDC
Korea (South)2407 folderFDC folder
Luxembourg751 (Mi1151)1986Fossil fuel burning - symbolic effects on cities and forests
Luxembourg752 (Mi1152)
Luxembourg752 maxiMaxicard (752)
Luxembourg751-752 fdcTwo stamps and (Éditions Thill) cachet on FDC
Macedonia128 (Mi132)From MS9 (128a (9x 128))1998
Macedonia128 fdcStamp and (pictorial) cancel and (Macedonia Post) cachet on FDC
Macedonia128 maxiMaxicard
Macedonia413 (Mi434)2007
Macedonia413 fdcStamp and (pictorial) cancel and (Macedonia Post) cachet on FDC
Macedonia413 folderFDC-folder front, also inside and back
Maldive Islands1833 (Mi1845)1992Smokestack and environmental degradation
Maldive Islands1832-1835 fdcOne of four stamps on FDC
Maldive Islands1833 op (Mi1845 op)1833 overprinted in black1995Smokestack and environmental degradation
Monaco1089 (Mi1295)1977
Morocco320 (Mi771)1974
Morocco320 fdcStamp and (pictorial) cancel and (green and blue and brown printed) cachet (design like stamp) on FDC
Morocco1243d (Mi?)One of booklet pane of 8 (1243 (a-h))2017
Morocco1248b (Mi1961)One of strip of 4 (1248 (a-d)) (Mi1960-1963)2018
MozambiqueMi9632One of MS4 (Mi9629-9632)2018
MozambiqueMi10205One of MS4 (Mi10202-10205)2019"Atmospheric pollution" (in Portuguese text)
MozambiqueMi10206Stamp from SS1 (BL1476)Industrial smokestacks
Netherlands Antilles1175a (Mi1621)Two of MS8 (1175e (2x (1175 (a-d)) + 2 labels)) (Mi1621-1624)2008Fossil fuel burning - "one of the causes" (of global warming)
Netherlands Antilles1175 fdcBlock of four stamps on FDC (Netherlands Antilles Nieuwe Post cachet)
New Zealand1267 (Mi1417)One of booklet pane of 10 (1268a (1259-1268)) (Mi1409-1418), with booklet outside (1268b)1995"Control air and water quality"
NigerMi6498One of MS4 (Mi6498-6501)2019"Pollution atmosphérique"
Poland4362a+selvedge (Mi5016+selvedge)From MS3 (4362 (a-c)) (BL276, Mi5016-5018)2018"Necessary changes" (to save our planet) (in Polish text)
Poland4362b+selvedge (Mi5017+selvedge)"To save our planet" (in Polish text)
San Marino1469f (Mi1876)One of MS12 (1469 (a-l)) (Mi1871-1882)2000
Spain2135 (Mi2400)1979"Save energy" (in Spanish text) (by burning less fossil fuel in transport)
Spain2135 maxiMaxicard
Spain4492 (Mi5506)2021A green breath of fresh air versus polluting smokestacks
Spain4492 fdcStamp on FDC (S.F.C. cachet)
Surinam969 (Mi1475)1994(Air) "pollution!"
TogoUnknown d (Mi?)One of MS4 (a-d)2019"Pollution atmosphérique"
TurkeyB176 (Mi2515)1980"Environmental health" (in Turkish text)
TurkeyB174-B177 fdcOne of four stamps and (Kemer) cachet (design like stamp) on FDC
United States1413a fdc1 (Mi1012-1015 fdc1)(Cover Craft Cachets) cachet on FDC1970"Fight pollution"
United States1413a fdc2 (Mi1012-1015 fdc2)(HF) cachet on FDC"Anti-pollution"
Atmospheric chemistry
This section contains philatelic items that refer explicitly or implicitly to atmospheric chemistry, unless they also refer to Acid Rain, Smog, Health Effects, Ozone or Aerosols, in which case they will be found in one of the five tables below.
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNone(Magenta rubber-stamp) cachet on cover1983"RACEA1 Physico-chimie de l'atmosphère - Kerguelen"
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNone(Turquoise rubber-stamp) cachet on cover1985"RACEA1 Physico-chimie de l'atmosphère - Crozet"
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNone(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover1985"RACEA1 Physico-chimie de l'atmosphère - Île Amsterdam"
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNone(Purple rubber-stamp) cachet on cover1986"RACEA1 Physico-chimie de la basse atmosphère - Terre Adélie"
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNone(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover1991"RACEA1 Physico-chimie de la basse atmosphère - Terre Adélie"
French Southern and Antarctic Territories215 (Mi343)1996"Station de Pointe Bénédicte: Chimie de l'atmosphère"; (see also FSAT cover 1996 and FSAT cover 2000)
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNone(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover1996"Programme RACEA1 47 - physico-chimie - troposphère" with the names of specialists studying "DMS" (dimethyl sulfate/sulfide), CO and CO2; also "Pointe B." (refers to the atmospheric chemistry studies at the Pointe Bénédicte station; (see also FSAT 215 and FSAT cover 2000)
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNone(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover back, also front1998"49ème Mission scientifique RACEA1 1997-99" with the names of specialists studying "soufre" (atmospheric sulfur, sulfides and sulfates), "Capoxy" (oxidizing capacity of the subpolar atmosphere) and "CO2 (and) Radon"
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNone(Black round rubber-stamp) cachet on cover2000"Physico-Chimie de l"Atmosphère - District de Saint Paul et Amsterdam"; also the names of specialists studying CO2 and DMS (dimethyl sulfate/sulfide); also a depiction of the Pointe Bénédicte station, where atmospheric chemistry studies are conducted; (see also FSAT 215 and FSAT cover 1996)
French Southern and Antarctic Territories294f_stamp cover (Mi464 cover)(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover2003"Physico-chimie de la troposphère polaire"
ItalyNone(Blue and green and black printed and cyan rubber-stamp) cachet on cover1999"IGAC" ("International Global Atmospheric Chemistry") logo and "IGAC 6th International Scientific Conference" (in Italian text)
United StatesNone(Black rubber-stamp) cachet1976"South Pole Atmospheric Chemistry Program"
Acid rain
This section contains philatelic items that refer explicitly or implicitly to acid rain.
Burundi1129 (Mi2530-2533)MS4 (a-d)2012"Pluies acides", smokestacks and dead trees
Burundi1149 (BL230)SS1
Egypt1198 (Mi1420)1982Acid rain and dead tree contrasted with healthy tree
Brazil1746 (Mi1830)One of block of four (1748a (1745-1748)) (Mi1829-1832)1981Symbolic effect of acid rain on trees; "Environmental protection - forests" (in Portuguese text)
Brazil1748a fdc1One of block of four on FDC (Rio cancel; Brasil Post cachet)
Brazil1748a fdc2One of block of four on FDC (Sao Paulo cancel; Brasil Post cachet)
Egypt1320 (Mi1556)1986Symbolic effect of acid rain (with dead tree)
Egypt1320 fdcStamp and (green and black printed) cachet (design like stamp) on FDC
Germany3237 fdc1 (Mi3634 fdc1)(Multi-color printed) cachet on FDC (Berlin cancel)2021Symbolic effect of acid rain on trees
Germany3237 fdc2 (Mi3634 fdc2)(multi-color printed) cachet on FDC (Bonn cancel)
Great Britain1463 (Mi1414)1992"Acid Rain Kills" (on stamp and the cachet of the Fleetwood GB 1463 FDC and the cachet of the Cotswold & Stuart FDC)
Great Britain1463 pairGutter-pair
Great Britain1463 fdcStamp and (Fleetwood) cachet on FDC (Edinburgh cancel), also back
Great Britain1463 card(Royal Mail) PHQ card back, also front
Great Britain1463-1466 fdc1One of four stamps on FDC (Howletts, Canterbury cancel, Royal Mail cachet)
Great Britain1463-1466 fdc2One of four stamps on FDC (Stockport cancel, Royal Mail cachet)
Great Britain1463-1466 fdc3One of four stamps and (Cotswold & Stuart) cachet on FDC (Poole, Dorset cancel)
Great Britain1463-1466 fdc4One of four stamps on FDC (Edinburgh cancel, Fleetwood cachet), also back
Great Britain1463-1466 fdc5One of four stamps on FDC (Twickenham cancel, Royal Mail cachet)
Great Britain1463-1466 fdc6One of four stamps on FDC (Poole Dorset cancel, Mercury cachet), also back
Greece1230 (Mi1289)1977Effect of acid rain on vegetation
Greece1231 (Mi1290)Symbolic effect of acid rain from industrial air pollution on monuments
Greece1288-1231 fdcTwo of four stamps on FDC(As above for stamps)
Italy1029 (Mi1325)1970Symbolic effect of acid rain (with dead tree)
Italy1030 (Mi1326)
Italy1029-1030 fdcTwo stamps on FDC (Italy Post cachet)
Netherlands680 (Mi1293)1986Symbolic effect of acid rain on trees
Netherlands679-680 fdcOne of two stamps on FDC (NVPH cachet)
Russia (USSR)5318 (BL178)On stamp of SS11984Symbolic acid rain effect, with healthy leaf at left and sick leaf at right depicted with various polluting industries
Russia (USSR)5851 (Mi6043)From MS50 5851a (50x 5851)1990
Russia (USSR)5851 maxiMaxicard, also back
Russia (USSR)5851 fdcStamp on FDC
Sweden1605 (Mi1397C)Perforated horizontally1986Vehicle emissions contributing to acid rain
Sweden1606 top (Mi1398Do)
1606 bottom (Mi1398Du)
Imperforate on top and bottom, respectively, from booklet pane of 6 (1606a (6x 1606)), with booklet interior and outside (front and back)Industrial emissions contributing to acid rain (in stamp); symbolic acid rain resulting from industrial and vehicle emissions (in booklet front)
Sweden1605-1606 fdcThree stamps and (pictorial) cancel and (multi-color printed) cachet on FDC, also insert and insert back(As above for stamps); "Stop acid rain" (in the cachet, in many languages); acid rain and its chemical components (in the cancel); also in insert text: "Acidity is one of many problems caused by polluted air. Every minute, industries and cars emit acid pollutants, primarily sulphur, nitrogen and hydrocarbon compounds. Some exhausts pollute the immediate environment [while] others are carried by the wind for long distances". Acid rain caused by air pollution has damaged "over 20,000 Swedish lakes" as well as "the big forests". "Air pollution must be reduced drastically by using better purification and combustion methods".
United States2569 maxi(Unicover) maxicard back, also front1991"found in a high concentration in the exceedingly dense atmosphere of Venus is sulphuric acid, a major component of acid rain on Earth"
Smog
This section contains philatelic items that refer explicitly or implicitly to smog
Great Britain1963-1966 fdc1 (Mi1924-1927 fdc1)(Dawn Cover Productions) cachet on FDC (Bracknell Berkshire "150 Years of Weather Charts" pictorial cancel)2001"1952 - London's notorious smog"
Great Britain1963-1966 fdc2 (Mi1924-1927 fdc2)(Dawn Cover Productions) cachet on FDC (Bracknell Berkshire "The Weather" pictorial cancel)
Great Britain1966a fdc (BL10, Mi1924-1927 fdc)(Dawn Cover Productions) cachet on FDC (Bracknell Berkshire "150 Years of Weather Charts" pictorial cancel)
Poland4362c+selvedge (Mi5018+selvedge)One of MS3 (4362 (a-c)) (BL276, Mi5016-5018)2018"Fight against smog" (in Polish text)
United States1413 fdc (Mi1015 fdc)(Multi-color printed) cachet on FDC1970"smog"
United StatesNone(Coverscape) cachet on cover2012"The Great Smog of 1952"
Health effects
This section contains philatelic items that refer explicitly or implicitly to health effects related to air pollution, air quality or atmospheric chemistry.
China (People's Republic)NonePostal card back, also front2002"too much UV can lead to cataracts, and too much UV-B can cause skin cancer and weaken the immune system" (in Chinese text); (a result of the atmospheric chemistry that leads to ozone depletion)
MonacoB112 (Mi2174?)1994"La lutte contre la tuberculose et les maladies respiratoires" (stamp shows polluting smokestacks which can contribute to respiratory problems)
New ZealandB217 (Mi?)2015"Sunsmart" - "Slip" on a shirt, and into some shade (to protect from harmful solar UV-B radiation)
New ZealandB218 (Mi?)"Sunsmart" - "Slop" on some sunscreen, minimum "SPF-30" (to protect from harmful solar UV-B radiation)
New ZealandB219 (Mi?)"Sunsmart" - "Slap" on a hat (to protect from harmful solar UV-B radiation)
New ZealandB220 (Mi?)Heat-sensitive MS4 (B217a+B218a+B219a+B220a), different perforations(As above and below for stamps)
New ZealandB220 fdcMS4 and (pictorial) cancel and (New Zealand Post) cachet on FDC
New ZealandB221Self-adhesive, same design as B220a"Sunsmart" - "Wrap" on some sunglasses (to protect from harmful solar UV-B radiation)
New ZealandB217a+B218a+B219a+B220a fdcFour stamps and (pictorial) cancel and (New Zealand Post) cachet on FDC(As above for stamps)
RomaniaNone(Pictorial) cancel and (multi-color printed) cachet on postcard1995"Air pollution causes more deaths than genetic changes or climate change"
San Marino1746 (Mi2329)2008Symbolic UV effect on human health
San Marino1746 bpBooklet pane of 4 (4x 1476)
San Marino1745-1748 fdcOne of four stamps and (pictorial) cancel on FDC
San Marino1746-1747 fdcOne of two stamps and (pictorial) cancel on FDC
Ozone (in an atmospheric chemistry context)
This section contains philatelic items that refer to ozone in the context of atmospheric chemistry, including explicit references to CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). The full set of all ozone items is found in the Ozone page, which also includes links to other ozone-related pages, such as scientists who studied ozone, ozone-monitoring satellites and ozonesondes.
British Antarctic Territory179 (Mi180)1991"Chemical studies in the ozone layer"
British Antarctic Territory176-179 fdcOne of four stamps on FDC, also insert and insert back
British Antarctic Territory198-201 fdc insert backPage 2 of insert from FDC, also front, also insert1992"ozone is being destroyed because of the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)"
Ghana2147 (Mi3039)1999Avoid "CFC"s; "Use ozone-friendly products"
Mexico2060 (Mi2663)1997Chemical equation "Cl + O3 yields ClO + O2"
Mexico2060 fdcStamp and (green and blue printed) cachet on FDC
New ZealandNone(Black rubber-stamp) cachet on cover1990"Antarctic air chemistry" in the context of Antarctic ozone depletion - the aerosol spray can is a reference to CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)
SpainNone(Multi-color printed) cachet on (un-canceled) (Spanish Post) stamped envelope (from 2011)2013"For their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone" (in Spanish text), Paul J. Crutzen, Mario Molina and F. Sherwood Rowland won the 1995 Nobel Prize in physics
SpainNone(Multi-color printed) cachet (different) on (un-canceled) (Spanish Post) stamped envelope (from 2011)"For their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone", Paul J. Crutzen, Mario Molina and F. Sherwood Rowland won the 1995 Nobel Prize in physics
Aerosols2,4
This section includes philatelic items that refer explicitly or implicitly to atmospheric aerosols2,4
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNone(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on cover2008"Lidar, Ozone, Aerosols"
French Southern and Antarctic TerritoriesNone(Blue rubber-stamp) cachet on postcard2008"Lidar, Ozone, Aerosols"
Great BritainNone(Pictorial) cancel on cover1975"10th International Aerosol Congress"
United StatesNone(Coverscape) cachet on cover2011The Pinatubo volcano "injected large amounts of aerosols into the stratosphere ... over the following months the aerosols formed a global layer of sulfuric acid haze"

1RACEA (RAdioactivité et Chimie de l'Environnement Atmosphérique) is a scientific laboratory on Amsterdam Island. Available information about its history is sketchy. It may have been set up in the late '50s or early '60s in the era of frequent atmospheric nuclear tests, with the goal of studying natural and manmade radioactive aerosols. It was well-established by 1968. With the passage of time its mandate apparently expanded so that by the 1980s it was generally referred to as the Laboratory of the Physical Chemistry of the (Low) Atmosphere, and still later as the Laboratory of the Physical Chemistry of the (Polar) Troposphere. The acronym "RACEA" is often included on philatelic covers that feature those names, presumably as a legacy of the early days of the Lab.
2Atmospheric aerosols play important roles in climate and atmospheric chemistry: they scatter sunlight, provide condensation nuclei for cloud droplets, and participate in heterogeneous chemical reactions.
3WED: World Environmental Day
4The EarthCARE (Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer) satellite has the measurement of aerosols as one of its scientific goals.


Below is a list of Air pollution and atmospheric chemistry on launch covers (including anniversary-of-launch covers).

CountryCancel DateCancel LocationType of ItemNotes on Content
(References to) Air pollution and air quality
United States1981-07-01Kennedy Space Center FL(Space Voyage magent and orange-brown) cachet on STS-2 pre-launch cover"Measurement of air pollution from satellites" (MAPS1)
United States1981-07-09Kennedy Space Center FL(Space Voyage blue and orange) cachet on STS-2 pre-launch cover
United States1981-11-12Houston TX(Space Voyage) cachet on STS-2 launch cover"Measurement of air pollution" (MAPS1)
United States1981-11-13Houston TX(Space Voyage) cachet on STS-2 event cover"Measurement of air pollution from satellites" (MAPS1)
United States1994-09-30Kennedy Space Center FL(Titusville Moonport Stamp Club) cachet on STS-68 launch cover, also front"Measurement of Air Pollution from Satellites (MAPS1) sensor"; "the gold band surrounding the globe symbolized the atmospheric envelope examined by MAPS1"
Ozone (in an atmospheric chemistry context)
United States1979-02-18Wallops Island VA(Space Voyage) cachet on Explorer-60 launch cover"SAGE - Stratospheric Aerosol & Gas Experiment ... to obtain data on the aerosols and ozone in the stratosphere - study to aid concern about methods to preserve the environment of the ozone layer in Earth's atmosphere"
Health effects
United States1979-02-18Wallops Island VA(Space Voyage) cachet on Explorer-60 launch cover"SAGE - Stratospheric Aerosol & Gas Experiment ... to obtain data on the aerosols and ozone in the stratosphere ... (ozone protects the Earth and its inhabitants from ultraviolet radiation)"
Aerosols2,4
Japan1977-09-15Uchinoura(Scenic) cancel and (JapanCover no.87) cachet on (sub-orbital) rocket launch coverMeasurement by rocket of "aerosol density in the region of 15 - 50 km altitude"
United States1979-02-18Wallops Island VA(Space Voyage) cachet on Explorer-60 launch cover"SAGE - Stratospheric Aerosol & Gas Experiment ... to obtain data on the aerosols and ozone in the stratosphere"
United States2011-03-04Cape Canaveral FL(Mission-57) back of Glory and E1P and KySat-1 and Hermes launch cover, also front"will characterize the aerosol types in the atmosphere, whether from wildfires, organic particulates, combustion engines, or some other source"
Great Britain2016-03-14Leicester(Buckingham Covers) insert from ExoMars launch cover, also front and backThe NOMAD (Nadir and Occultation for MArs Discovery) instrument aboard the ExoMars satellite includes the "'UVIS', a miniature ultraviolet spectrometer whose main objective is to detect and quantify trace gas concentrations, but also to study aerosols present in the Martian atmosphere"

1This document discusses the MAPS (Measurement of Air Pollution from Satellites) payload, which flew on four Shuttle missions: STS-2, STS-41G, STS-59, and STS-68)
2Atmospheric aerosols play important roles in climate and atmospheric chemistry: they scatter sunlight, provide condensation nuclei for cloud droplets, and participate in heterogeneous chemical reactions.
4The EarthCARE (Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer) satellite has the measurement of aerosols as one of its scientific goals.



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