Abstract
The study determined the influence of altitude on the content of heavy metals in selected plant species of the Tatra National Park (TNP). The metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were identified in two species of plants, i.e., in the moss (Polytrichum formosum Hedw.) and in the blueberry leaves (Vaccinium myrtillus L.). Plant samples were collected in two test areas every 100 meters of altitude of the area, starting from 1,000 m above sea level in the Lake Morskie Oko test area and from 1,100 m above sea level in the Kasprowy Wierch test area, and ending at 1,400 m above sea level for Lake Morskie Oko and 1,550 m above sea level for Kasprowy Wierch. The two test areas are different from each other in terms of natural and physico-geographical conditions (geological structure, landform, climatic conditions, etc.). The conducted research shows that the content of heavy metals in the studied species of plants increases with the altitude above sea level. Both P. formosum Hedw and V. myrtillus L. can be good phytoindicators in mountainous areas. In the tested plant species, the contents of heavy metals were also found to be higher than the natural contents, which is most likely related to long-range emission. Long-distance transport of pollutants causes that important natural protected areas, such as the Tatra National Park, are exposed to excessive pollution, including the accumulation of heavy metals in plants.
Highlights
There are numerous places of natural value in the world
The metal concentration series look similar for both plant species with the difference in lead and chromium content, where the moss P. formosum Hedw. accumulated more lead than chromium, while in the case of the European blueberry
They were exceeded by several, or several dozen times: more than 3 times for lead and nickel, several times for cadmium, and the highest - several dozen times for chromium. Such high exceedances in the content of heavy metals in the tested plant species in relation to the natural value of these metals in plants indicate the anthropogenic pollution of the selected research areas. Owing to their location (TNP) and great natural value, the research areas should be free from anthropogenic pollutants, long-range emission in this case has a large impact on the quality of the natural environment
Summary
There are numerous places of natural value in the world. They are often protected areas, such as national parks or nature reserves. Humans do not have a direct negative impact on the natural environment, but industrial and automotive emissions reach these areas. These are the so-called long-range emissions, as a result of which fine dust particles are transported over distances of several hundred kilometers [1–3]. Lead and cadmium are metals that remain in the atmosphere for a long time and are characterized by the very small diameter of their particles. They are transported over long distances and, contaminate the environment on a global scale [2, 3]
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