The solute (Al, Br, Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, I, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, S and V) and particulate (Al, Ba, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cu, Dy, I, Mn, Na, Ti, U and V) chemistry of a relatively unpolluted snowfall, associated with a maritime airmass, is presented, to characterise background conditions for the region. The variability of the concentration of solute and the chemical composition of particulate material is investigated on an intra- and inter-site basis. The seasalt solute component is less variable than the terrigenous component. Hence, the aerosol scavenged by the snow is assumed to be a mixture of at least two components. The solute content of a relatively polluted, ‘black’ snow is distinctly different from background snowfall. However, there is little difference in the chemistry of particulate material with diameter > 0.45 μm. Most lithophiles have enrichment factors (EF) close to 1, whereas only the chalcophiles and halogens have EF > 10. At most, the EF of each of the 14 elements considered differs by a factor of 5 between polluted and background snow. Particulate material gathered from within snowpack in the same region has a similar range of EF values to those obtained from both snows. There is the potential for toxic effects associated with trace metal release during sńowmelt of both polluted and marine snows.