| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4410418 | Chemosphere | 2012 | 7 Pages |
Tree bark has been shown to be a useful biomonitor of past air quality because it accumulates atmospheric particulate matter (PM) in its outermost structure. Trace element concentrations of tree bark of more than 73 trees allow to elucidate the impact of past atmospheric pollution on the urban environment of the cities of Strasbourg and Kehl in the Rhine Valley. Compared to the upper continental crust (UCC) tree barks are strongly enriched in Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb. To assess the degree of pollution of the different sites in the cities, a geoaccumulation index Igeo was applied. Global pollution by V, Ni, Cr, Sb, Sn and Pb was observed in barks sampled close to traffic axes. Cr, Mo, Cd pollution principally occurred in the industrial area. A total geoaccumulation index IGEO-tot was defined; it is based on the total of the investigated elements and allows to evaluate the global pollution of the studied environment by assembling the Igeo indices on a pollution map.
► Trace element concentrations of tree barks have been analyzed to assess past air quality. ► A total geoaccumulation index (IGEO-tot) has been developed in order to identify highly polluted environments. ► The tree barks IGEO-tot indices allow to establish a pollution map. ► Traffic and industrial activities are responsible of high trace element levels in air.
