Use of passive biomonitoring to evaluate the environmental impact of emissions from cement industries in Sergipe State, northeast Brazil

► Tree bark samples have been analyzed for detection of air pollutant by EDXRF. ► The technique can be applied to several pollutants and offers low cost and simplicity. ► The enrichment factor values for Ca, Cu, S, and Zn were all greater than 10. ► The most important anthropogenic activity is related to production of the cement.