Abstract
The spectral response to arsenic (As) stress of pine needles (Pinus densiflora Siebold and Zucc.) from an abandoned lead (Pb)–zinc (Zn) mine was investigated based on chemical and spectroscopic analyses. The correlation analysis between the content of As in needle samples and that of soils and spectral parameters of the needle samples were conducted. The results showed very high correlation between As content in pine needles and soils. The major spectral response of pine needles to the As stress were characterized by the increase in the green and red color reflectance, the decrease in the first derivatives at 1648 nm, and the shrink in the red absorption feature. These changes were caused by the pigment content loss and the structural changes of phenolic compounds in the pine needles due to the As content. The linear regression analysis with the stepwise method showed the first derivatives at 668 nm and 1648 nm were the most useful variables in the regression model for As content prediction in pine needles. The As index of pine needles could be used to detect As content in soils associated with As and heavy metals contamination and/or mineralization in coniferous forests.
Highlights
Arsenic (As) is renowned for its high toxic potential in the natural ecosystem [1]
Arsenic was not detected in the rest, because their As content was below the limit of detection
We investigated the spectral response to the As content of P. densiflora needles that grew near an abandoned mine and evaluated the prediction power of the spectral bands for As content estimation
Summary
Arsenic (As) is renowned for its high toxic potential in the natural ecosystem [1]. The main sources of As contamination are mining, smelting, and other industrial activities such as metallurgy, electroplating, dyes, pottery, and petroleum refining [2]. Other important sources of As are the irrigation of As contaminated water and the use of agrochemical materials or animal manures where. As is known as one of the most serious metal and metalloid contaminants in abandoned metal mines in Korea [5]. Arsenic can be transported by water or air in the ecosystems, resulting in interruption of the natural circulation nodes that they reach [2]. Due to its widespread occurrence and toxicity, reliable and eco-friendly methods for evaluating As contamination have become extremely necessary [4,6]
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