Metal Uptake by Birches and Scots Pines Grown on a Porcelain Landfill

TL;DR

This study examines how birches and pines absorb metals from a porcelain landfill, finding that birches accumulate more certain metals than pines.

Contribution

The study reveals that birch leaves can be used for risk assessments due to high metal bioaccumulation factors.

Findings

Birch leaves showed higher uptake of nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, and lead compared to reference trees.

Pine needles had elevated lead levels, but to a lesser extent than birches.

Birch leaves had high bioaccumulation factors, with barium reaching up to eight.

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.

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