lmmissions from the garbage incinerator Niederurnen in Switzerland were measured annually between 1971 to 1990 from the chloride content of beech leaves (KELLER 1980, 1986) and compared to the radial growth of corresponding trees. Abrupt growth changes show no relation to the pollution. The number of trees which experienced abrupt growth changes in 1974 when the incinerator first began operating and in 1985 the year an expanded smoke filter was installed does not exceed the number of growth changes attributed in other years to climatic factors.