Results from analysis of aerosol ion composition and condensation nuclei (CN) concentration measurements carried out at the second Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE-2) Tenerife site, in the eastern North Atlantic subtropical region between July 1995 and May 1997, are described. Sea-salt derived Na+ dominated the samples having an average concentration of 2.4 ¿g m-3. Extensive anthropogenic influences are evident with average non-sea-salt sulfate (nssSO42-) and nitrate (NO3-) concentration values of 2.1 ¿g m-3 and 1.3 ¿g m-3 respectively. High levels of these species are linked to air mass transport from Europe: observed as short-term (2--3 days) pollution peaks. The pollution peaks overlie a summertime maximum in background levels. From comparison with Southern Hemisphere data, it is estimated that ~80% of the observed nssSO42- originated from anthropogenic sources. Regression analysis shows a high degree of linearity between the NO3- and CN concentration, which is stronger than found with between NssSO42- and CN concentration. This is considered paradoxical as in the maritime atmosphere NO3- has primarily been found in supermicron size range linked to sea-salt, while nssSO42- and CN are primarily considered to be submicron aerosol. The CN:NO3- linearity is considered to arise from NO3- formation and transport processes over ocean regions.