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Lead distribution in tree rings

Journal Article · · For. Sci.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6312169
Large amounts of lead are being released into the environment from automobile exhaust. Many studies have dealt with the accumulation of lead in soils, plants, and animals; but few have dealt specifically with the accumulation of lead over time. This study evaluates the potential of tree rings as indicators of environmental lead accumulation. Three sampling locations were selected to provide several tree species, including sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh), red oak (Quercus rubra L.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), and a range of potential lead inputs based on traffic volume. Increment cores were taken from six trees of each species at locations near and remote to automobile traffic and subsampled for prior and current 10-year growth segments. The segments were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry to obtain average lead concentrations. In cores taken near roads, significantly higher lead concentrations were found in the last 10 years growth than in the earlier 10-year growth period. Lead concentrations in cores from trees remote to roads showed no significant increase over time.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Illinois, Urbana
OSTI ID:
6312169
Journal Information:
For. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: For. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 20:3; ISSN FOSCA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English