ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING USING LINDEN TREE LEAVES AS NATURAL TRAPS OF ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION: A PILOT STUDY IN TRANSILVANIA, ROMANIA

Atmospheric pollution caused by toxic elements is an emerging problem of concern. Tree leaves have been widely used as indicator of atmospheric pollutions and they are effective alternatives to the moreusual biomonitoring methods. Tree leaves can be used as natural traps of atmospheric deposition. Elemental composition of dust deposited onto leaf surfaces can be used to characterize the urban environment. A pilot survey including 16 Romanian settlements was carried out in order to evaluate the characteristics and sources of air pollutants. Tree leaves (Tilia tomentosa, Tilia cordata, Tilia platyphyllos) were collected and used for the measurements. Elemental analyses were carried out by ICP-OES and ICP-MS. Principal component and discriminant analyses were used to characterizing and estimating the level of pollution. Settlements were grouped on the basis of discriminant function values. Multivariate comparison of chemical data ordered the settlements into 3 main groups, which showed a systematic geographic distribution

Inorganic chemical composition of dust deposited on oleander (Nerium oleander L.) leaves

Elemental composition of dust deposited onto leaf surfaces was analysed in this study. Leaves of oleander ( Nerium oleander L.) were collected for testing the environ- mental quality from Tripoli (Libya), Tajura (suburban of Tripoli) and Ghadames (remote area). Elemental analysis was carried out by ICP-OES. Principle component analysis (PCA) and enrichment factors were used for characterizing and estimating the level of t he pollution. Samples from Tripoli were found to have higher contents of Pb, Zn, Cu in comparison with suburban (Tajura) and remote (Ghadames) areas. Our results demonstrated that the leaves of Nerium oleander were useful indicator to assessment of atmospheric deposition. Only limited information is available on environ- mental issues in Libya and the results reported here may con- tribute significantly to the assessment of the quality of the environment in this country

Environmental monitoring using linden tree leaves as natural traps of atmospheric deposition: a pilot study in Transilvania, Romania

Atmospheric pollution caused by toxic elements is an emerging problem of concern. Tree leaves havebeen widely used as indicator of atmospheric pollutions and they are effective alternatives to the moreusual biomonitoring methods. Tree leaves can be used as natural traps of atmospheric deposition.Elemental composition of dust deposited onto leaf surfaces can be used to characterize the urbanenvironment. A pilot survey including 16 Romanian settlements was carried out in order to evaluatethe characteristics and sources of air pollutants. Tree leaves (Tilia tomentosa, Tilia cordata, Tiliaplatyphyllos) were collected and used for the measurements. Elemental analyses were carried out byICP-OES and ICP-MS. Principal component and discriminant analyses were used to characterizingand estimating the level of pollution. Settlements were grouped on the basis of discriminant functionvalues. Multivariate comparison of chemical data ordered the settlements into 3 main groups, whichshowed a systematic geographic distribution