Element contents in leaves of four plant species (birch, mountain ash, fern and spruce) along anthropogenic and geogenic concentration gradients.
Forty samples each of leaves of birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.), European mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia (L.)) and bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn) as well as spruce needles (Picea abies (L.) Karsten) were collected along a 120 km south-north transect running through Norway's largest city, Oslo. Concentrations of 25 chemical elements (Ag, Au, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Sr, Ti, and Zn) as well as loss on ignition for the 4 sample materials are reported. The decline of input of sea spray with distance from the coast, geology, pH and anthropogenic contamination all played a role for the observed element concentrations in the leaves. Although growing under exactly the same natural conditions each plant species displayed quite unique uptake characteristics. Plant-species dependency and individual differences in the reaction of the plant leaves to different element sources make the investigated species of very limited value as bioindicators of anthropogenic activities. Anthropogenic contamination influences plant-leaf element content within a limited distance ( approximately 20 km) from the source.
Reimann
Clemens
C
Geological Survey of Norway NGU, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway. Clemens.Reimann@ngu.no <Clemens.Reimann@ngu.no>
Arnoldussen
Arnold
A
Boyd
Rognvald
R
Finne
Tor Erik
TE
Koller
Friedrich
F
Nordgulen
Øystein
Ø
Englmaier
Peter
P
D029662:Betula; D001895:Boron / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D029624:Ferns; D055593:Geological Phenomena; D005844:Geology; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D009664:Norway; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D028222:Picea; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D012623:Seawater; D031994:Sorbus; D013455:Sulfur / Q000032:analysis
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008670:Metals; D010758:Phosphorus; D013455:Sulfur; D001895:Boron