Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) have steadily become a serious environmental problem, especially regarding brownfields chosen for reuse, e.g., as a residential area. “Norra Hamnstaden” in Lidköping (Sweden) has a long history of industrial activity, including porcelain production with the resultant industrial waste deposited close by resulting in elevated levels of metals used for porcelain glazes, especially lead. To estimate the bioavailability of twelve PTEs (As, Ba, Pb, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Mn, Mo, Ni, V, Zn), their uptake by birches (Betula pendula) as well as Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) was investigated through analyzing their leaves. Sampling was carried out on five trees once per month in the period from May to August. Different uptake patterns were observed for birches and pines, for the latter even varying with age. The birch samples showed higher contents of nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, and lead compared to the reference trees. Also, the pine needles had elevated lead levels, although by a lower factor. Birch leaves revealed surprising patterns of elevated element bioaccumulation factors, with barium reaching up to eight, offering the possibility to limit analyses to plant material for risk assessments instead of soil analysis.
Source: Molecules
Authors: Michaela Zeiner, Viktor Sjöberg, Helena Olsman
Institution: Örebro University
Language: English
Topic: Heavy metals in environment
Subfield: Pollution
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
OpenAlex ID: W4410480419