TITLE:
Biogeochemistry of Plane Trees as a Tool to Detect Atmospheric Pollution
AUTHORS:
Manuel Viladevall, Diana Puigserver, José M. Carmona, Amparo Cortés, Andrés Navarro
KEYWORDS:
Atmospheric Pollution; Biogeochemistry; Heavy Metals; Vehicle Emissions; Plane Trees
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Geosciences,
Vol.4 No.9,
November
29,
2013
ABSTRACT: The plane tree, which is a valuable tool to detect
atmospheric pollution, is one of the most common trees in European cities. Soil
and leaf samplings were carried out in Barcelona and its environs (NE Spain) to
establish the soil-plant relationship. Dry and ashed leaves and soils were
analyzed by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis and Inductively Coupled
Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP/OES) at the ACTLABS laboratories in
Ontario, Canada. Given that diesel is the main fuel used in vehicles in Europe, we sought to establish the role of diesel in
atmospheric pollution. Diesel samples were obtained from service stations and
analyzed after preconcentration using ICP/MS at the geochemistry laboratories
of the University of Barcelona. The average content of diesel oil shows high
values of Pb, Cu, Cr, Ag, Cd and Mn. High values of Pb, Cu, Au, Hg and Sb in
leaves and soils were detected downtown and along main roads outside the city,
whereas low levels of these elements were observed in rural areas.