Pollution trend monitoring studies are useful in understanding the historical contamination, present status and to predict future trends. Pine trees are used as biological indicators to assess environmental contamination by relating contaminant concentration in annual growth rings. The objective of the present study was to understand the trace elements including Cu, Mn, Cr, Pb, V, Ni, Zn, As, Ag, Cd, In, Sn and PCB congener concentrations in tree rings of pine trees from Western Kentucky. Pine tree core samples were collected from selected locations including industrial, national parks and undeveloped areas. Standard operating procedures were followed for tree core sampling and analysis using ICP-MS and GC-ECD. The results revealed that several elements and lower chlorinated PCB congeners were found in annual growth rings of pine trees. Tendency for increasing trends of Cr, Cu, Zn and slight declining trends for Pb and some PCB congeners were discernible.

Trace elements and PCB congener concentrations in annual growth rings of pine trees from western Kentucky

244th National Meeting (2012)

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