Biomonitoring of Atmospheric Particulate Matter Using Magnetic Properties of Salix matsudana Tree Ring Cores

• Published in: Soil & tillage research Vol. 392; no. 1; p. 177
• Main Authors: Zhang, Chunxia, Huang, Baochun, Piper, John DA, Luo, Rensong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.04.2008
• ISSN: 0167-1987

Relationship between smelting factory activity and the impact of this factory on the environment as recorded by the magnetic signature in Salix matsudana tree rings is examined. Magnetic particles are omnipresent in S. matsudana tree bark and trunk wood and magnetic techniques suggest that these particles are predominantly magnetite in a multi-domain state. Magnetic concentrations range from 5.97 mu g/g to 285.71 mu g/g in annual tree ring wood samples and are shown to vary with sampling direction and height. The observation indicate that magnetic particles are most probably intercepted and collected by tree bark first and then entered into tree xylem tissues by translocation during the growing seasons until they are finally enclosed into the tree ring by lignification.