Conifer needles bioaccumulate atmospheric pollutants, including trace metals, and may be used to monitor variations in atmospheric concentration. Needles were analyzed to determine whether a correlation exists between elevations and trace metal concentrations in proximity to roadways and other non-point sources. Composite samples of white spruce ( Picea glauca ) and balsam fir ( Abies balsamea ) needles were collected along hillsides in eastern and western Calgary, respectively. A combined total of 11 sites was sampled along two transects of increasing elevation. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of trace metal concentrations was completed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and synthesized using regression analysis. The concentrations of cobalt, nickel, and calcium in the samples were found to exhibit a significant (P < 0.05) relationship with respect to elevation and proximity to roadways.
KeywordsTrace Metal DepositionBiomonitoringNon-Point SourcesAtmospheric Deposition
Beckett, K.P., Freer-Smith, P.H. and Taylor, G. (2003) Particulate Pollution Capture by Urban Trees: Effect of Species and Windspeed. Global Change Biology, 6, 995-1003. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2486.2000.00376.x
Forbes, P. (2015) Monitoring of Air Pollutants: Sampling, Sample Preparation and Analytical Techniques. Elsevier, USA.
Guardo, A.D., Zaccara, S., Cerebolini, B., Acciarri, M., Terzaghi, G. and Calamari, D. (2003) Conifer Needles as Passive Biomonitors of the Spatial and Temporal Distribution of DDT from a Point Source. Chemosphere, 52, 789-797. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(03)00256-X
Kord, B., Mataji, A. and Babaie, S. (2010) Pine (Pinus eldarica medw.) Needles as Indicator for Heavy Metals Pollution. International Journal of Science and Technology, 7, 79-84.
Rautio, P. and Huttunen, S. (2003) Total vs. Internal Element Concentrations in Scots Pine Needles along a Sulphur and Metal Pollution Gradient. Environmental Pollution, 122, 273-289. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0269-7491(02)00289-0
Beckett, K.P., Freer-Smith, P.H. and Taylor, G. (2000) Effective Tree Species for Local Air-Quality Management. Journal of Arboriculture, 26, 12-19.
Aboal, J.R., Fernandez, J.A. and Carballeira, A. (2004) Oak Leaves and Pine Needles as Biomonitors of Airborne Trace Elements Pollution. Environmental and Experimental Biology, 51, 215-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2003.11.003
Gandois, L. and Probst, A. (2012) Localization and Mobility of Trace Metal in Silver Fir Needles. Chemosphere, 87, 204-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.12.020
Ronggui, T., Ji, L., Peijun, Y., Jia, S., Youchao, C., Yiwen, G. and Jun, Z. (2014) Trace Metals of Needles and Litter in Timberline Forests in the Eastern of Tibetan Plateau, China. Ecological Indicators, 45, 669-676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.06.003
Lin, Z.Q. and Schuepp, H.P. (1995) Trace Metal Contamination in and on Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea (L) Mill.) Foliage in Southern Quebec, Canada. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 81, 175-191. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00477264
Chropenova, M., Greguskova, E.K., Karaskova, P., Pribylova, P., Kukucka, P., Barakova, D. and Cupr, P. (2016) Pine Needles and Pollen Grains of Pinus mugo turra —A Biomonitoring Tool in High Mountain Habitats Identifying Environmental Contamination. Ecological Indicators, 66, 132-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.01.004
City of Calgary (2015) Traffic Volume Flow Maps. http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/TP/Pages/Planning/Transportation-Data/Traffic-volume-flow-maps.aspx
Dunlap, C.E., Steinnes, E. and Flegal, R.A. (1999) A Synthesis of Lead Isotopes in Two Millennia of European Air. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 167, 81-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0012-821X(99)00020-5
Viard, B., Pihan, F., Promeyrat, S. and Pihan, J.-C. (2004) Integrated Assessment of Heavy Metal (Pb, Zn, Cd) Highway Pollution: Bioaccumulation in Soil, Graminaceae and Land Snails. Chemosphere, 55, 1349-1359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2004.01.003
Umar, A., Yauri, B. and Muhammad, C. (2015) Acacia Nitolica as Bioindicator of Copper and Cobalt Pollution Due to Vehicular Emission along the Main Entrance Road of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto—Nigeria. International Journal of Advanced Research in Chemical Science, 2, 1-8.
Waldron, H.A. (1980) Metals in the Environment. Science of the Total Environment, 20, 287-287.
Adriano, D.C. (2001) Trace Elements in Terrestrial Environments—Biogeochemistry, Bioavailability, and Risks of Metals. Springer-Verlag, New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-21510-5
Ndiokwere, C. (1984) Heavy Metal Pollution from Vehicle Emission and Its Effect on Vegetable and Crops in Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Pollution, 7, 35-42.
Ball, D.J., Hamilton, R.S. and Harrison, R.M. (1991) The Influence of Highway-Related Pollutants on Environmental Quality. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 11, 176-178.
Viskara, E.-L. and Karenlampi, L. (1999) Roadside Scots Pine as an Indicator of Deicing Salt Use—A Comparative Study from Two Consecutive Winters. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 122, 405-419. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005235422943
Tomasevic, M., Anicic, M., Jovanovic, L., Peric-Grujic, A. and Ristic, M. (2011) Deciduous Tree Leaves in Trace Elements Biomonitoring: A Contribution to Methodology. Ecological Indicators, 11, 1689-1695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.04.017
Ershov, V.V., Lukina, N.V., Orlova, M.A. and Zukert, N.V. (2016) Dynamics of Snowmelt Water Composition in Conifer Forests Exposed to Airborne Industrial Pollution. Russian Journal of Ecology, 47, 46-52. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1067413616010045
Marschner, P. (1995) Marschner’s Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. 3rd Edition, Academic Press, Cambridge.
City of Calgary (2016) Salt Management Plan. http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/Roads/Pages/.../Salt-management-plan-FAQs.aspx
Lehndorff, E., Urbat, M. and Schwark, L. (2006) Accumulation Histories of Magnetic Particles on Pine Needles as Function of Air Quality. Atmospheric Environment, 40, 7082-7096. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2006.06.008
Franceschi, V.R. and Nakata, P.A. (2006) Calcium Oxalate in Plants: Formation and Function. Annual Reviews of Plant Biology, 56, 41-71. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.arplant.56.032604.144106
DeHayes, D.H., Schaberg, P.G., Hawley, G.J. and Strimbeck, R.G. (1999) Acid Rain Impacts on Calcium Nutrition and Forest Health Alteration of Membrane-Associated Calcium Leads to Membrane Destabilization and Foliar Injury in Red Spruce. BioScience, 49, 789-800. https://doi.org/10.2307/1313570