Dataset of chemical elements concentrations in snow samples collected in Jelgava City (Latvia) in 2021, 2022, 2023

This article presents datasets on the concentrations of chemical elements in snow samples collected in the city of Jelgava. Snow samples were collected on January 9, 2021, February 4, 2022, and January 9, 2023. Snow was allowed to accumulate for at least six days before sampling. Snow samples were collected at 59 monitoring points in Jelgava and at one site outside the city, which served as a control. The collected snow samples were analysed using ICP-MS. The following elements were analysed in the samples: aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), molybdenum (Mo), cadmium (Cd), barium (Ba), tungsten (W), and lead (Pb). All datasets from the 2021-2023 sampling campaigns are openly available in the Mendeley Data repository. The concentrations showed high variability, with Zn ranging from 3.44 to 35.12 µg/L (median 7.5 µg/L) and Pb up to 3.77 µg/L in 2021, while the control site showed a Pb value of 0.95 µg/L, reflecting differences between urban sites and the rural reference point. The compiled dataset has fundamental scientific value, as it provides a reliable basis for local and regional analyses of urban air quality. In addition, it supports the evaluation of the city's green infrastructure and its role in improving air quality. The dataset is also valuable for assessing the effectiveness of pollution mitigation measures implemented in Jelgava and for identifying priority areas where additional actions may be needed.