POLLUTION TRENDS USING BARK OF MORUS ALBA IN BUENOS AIRES AND MENDOZA CITIES (ARGENTINA)

FAGGI A,M. CARRETERO, CASTRO MAE. PERELMAN P ,

REVISTA ÝRVORE

Sociedadede Investigacoes Florestais

Año: 2008

0100-6762

ABSTRACT A comparative study of elements deposited on tree bark was carried out for urban and periurban areas of two of the most important cities in Argentina. The content of Fe, Mg, Al, Mn, Zn, Pb, Ba, Cr Hg, Cu, Ni, Cd and Sb was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) in Morus alba tree bark collected in Buenos Aires and Mendoza cities. The main air pollutants detected in Buenos Aires urban area were Ba, Cr, Cu and Ni and indicate significative difference from Mendoza urban and periurban areas. Significantly, higher concentration of Zn, Ba, Cr and Cu were recorded in periurban of Buenos Aires city than in Mendoza. Bark samples were strongly influenced by dust and show Al, Fe, Mg and other elements accumulation that indicated that soil particles were carried out by wind. Elements like Ba and Zn, commonly linked to traffic emissions, showed the highest concentrations in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area possibly by a more intensive vehicular traffic. Our results indicated that intensity of vehicular traffic and not city structure is responsible of air pollution.   Key words: bark, pollution, Morus alba