Abstract
A comparative study of elements deposited on tree bark was carried out for urban and periurban areas of two of the most important cities in Argentina. The content of Fe, Mg, Al, Mn, Zn, Pb, Ba, Cr, Hg, Cu, Ni, Cd and Sb was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) in Morus alba tree bark collected in the cities of Buenos Aires and Mendoza. The main air pollutants detected in the Buenos Aires urban area were Ba, Cr, Cu and Ni and indicate significative difference from the Mendoza urban and periurban areas. Significantly, higher concentrations of Zn, Ba, Cr and Cu were recorded in the periurban area of the city of Buenos Aires than in Mendoza. Bark samples were strongly influenced by dust and show Al, Fe, Mg and other element accumulations that indicate that soil particles were carried out by wind. Elements like Ba and Zn, commonly linked to traffic emissions, showed the highest concentrations in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, possibly due to more intensive vehicular traffic. Our results indicated that intensity of vehicular traffic and not city structure is responsible for air pollution.
Highlights
The value of urban green is globally well recognized, considering that trees in the city fulfill multiple necessities from the environmental point of view (DA COSTA PORFIRIO et al 2006)
Monitoring of air pollution is of great concern, especially in cities, because high concentrations of contaminants in closer proximity to humans can significantly amplify the exposure of man to metals with detrimental effects to health (DION et al, 1993; WONG et al, 2006)
It was only detected in Mendoza; where the content of Hg in the periurban area (7.5 mg/kg) differed significantly from the trees collected in the centre
Summary
The value of urban green is globally well recognized, considering that trees in the city fulfill multiple necessities from the environmental point of view (DA COSTA PORFIRIO et al 2006). Urban trees can provide many benefits to the urban environment and society These include numerous physical/biological and social/ economic benefits such as improved microclimates and air quality, enhanced physical and mental health, and increased economic development (NOVACK et al, 1997). Monitoring of air pollution is of great concern, especially in cities, because high concentrations of contaminants in closer proximity to humans can significantly amplify the exposure of man to metals with detrimental effects to health (DION et al, 1993; WONG et al, 2006). The level of atmospheric pollution can be assessed by direct methods, e.g. measuring particles in the air, or indirect ones like biomonitoring. Panichev and Mc Crindle (2004) found that metals assessed in bark reflected the levels of air pollution better than the leaves of trees or grasses did Authors used bark as a tracer of contamination in the environment, assuming that contents of pollutants in bark can be linked to levels of air pollution (BALLACH et al, 2002; WALKENHORST et al, 1993). Panichev and Mc Crindle (2004) found that metals assessed in bark reflected the levels of air pollution better than the leaves of trees or grasses did
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