Birch pollen (Betulasp.) was treated with polluted air and the inorganic components of the pollen surface were analysed by different methods. By EDAX some particles were found to be composed of e.g., Si and S, or Al, Ca and Fe. The SIMS method indicated P, K, Si, Ca, Mg, Al, Na, Rb, Ba, Zn, Sr and B. ESCA seems to be more suitable for analysis of organic compounds, and only C, O, Si, and N could be detected.