Abstract
Lead is very toxic and if ingested cancause severe health problems to both animals andhumans. To determine if lead accumulation in treescould provide a direct pathway to enter the foodchain, oaks (Q. nigra or Q. velutina)growing near two lead smelting facilities in Alabama,U.S.A., were analyzed for lead in acorns, leaves and treecores. A relatively pristine site was used as acontrol. Lead was not detected in acorns collected atany site, and was only found in tree cores from thesites near smelters. Significant increases in treecore lead from 1975–1995 were detected at the activesmelter site. Results were different from the inactivesmelter site; lead increased in tree cores until thesmelter ceased operation, then decreased afterclosing. Soil lead decreased linearly with distancefrom both smelters. In addition, a significantpositive relationship was observed between leaf andsoil lead at the site with the active smelter, andmay be the result of both translocation via treeroots, and foliar absorption of deposited lead ionsinto the leaf structure.
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