Heavy metal concentrations in deciduous tree rings reflects changes in temporal dynamic of industrial air pollution
Urban expansion, industrialization, and increased traffic intensity are major global threats to human health, well-being, and forest ecosystems due to their contribution to air, soil, and water pollution. A striking example of such environmental degradation is the dieback of hardwood forests in East...
| Autores: | , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repositorio: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:digital.csic.es:10261/418942 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/418942 https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105015187747 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Dendrochemistry Dete Industrial air pollution Heavy metals Industrial air pollution Ring wood Tree |
| Sumario: | Urban expansion, industrialization, and increased traffic intensity are major global threats to human health, well-being, and forest ecosystems due to their contribution to air, soil, and water pollution. A striking example of such environmental degradation is the dieback of hardwood forests in Eastern Europe, particularly in the heavily polluted regions of Transylvania, Romania, such as Baia Mare and Copşa Mică. This study investigates whether trees growing in industrially polluted areas accumulate higher concentrations of heavy metals in their wood compared to those in unpolluted areas. We analysed the concentrations of manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) in tree-rings of two broad-leaved species-European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and sessile oak (Quercus petraea), in two regions heavily impacted by industrial pollution. To assess the dynamics of heavy metal accumulation in wood, we used two analytical methods: inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). ICP-MS results showed significantly higher Mn concentrations in European beech wood from the intensively polluted site in Baia Mare. In contrast, XRF analyses reveald higher Mn levels in beech trees from unpolluted area, particularly in Copşa Mică. XRF also indicated high Zn levels in both tree species from intensively polluted site in Copşa Mică, and higher Cu concentrations in sessile oak from the same region. Pb was detected in Baia Mare samples, and its concentrations did not significantly differ between polluted and unpolluted sites. These findings highlight species- and site-specific patterns of heavy metal accumulation and underscore the complexity of tree responses to long-term industrial pollution. |
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