Identification of pollutant sources by metal determinations in prenennial tree leaves

Plants take metals in their structure by their roots from soil and water. Furthermore, some of them absorb metals at considerable ratio by their leaves also from air. Thus, the metal concentrations of plant parts such as leaf, stem, root and bark can be used indicator of environmental pollution including soil, water and air, named as biomonitor. Consequently, the plants and microorganisms give quantitative information about environmental quality are used as biomonitor.In this study, different pine kinds such as, pinus nigra, cedrus libani and cupressus arizonica were collected in different months of a year at various sites of Elazig city center. Soil samples were also taken from the same sample sites. The plant samples were digested using dry ashing, and soil samples were digested using wet ashing. Determinations of Pb, Cd, and Cu in the clear digests were carried out by STAT-AAS. The results found were compared according to the heavy traffic sites, the industrial factories, population intensity and seasonal variations. Pb, Cd and Cu concentrations of plant samples were found in the range of 139-648 ppb, 19-57 ppb and 1.4-2.6 ppm for pinus nigra, 113-908 ppb, 9-55 ppb, and 1.8-4.7 ppm for cedrus libani and 88- 807 ppb, 12-50 ppb, 1.6-4.7 ppm for cupressus arizonica, respectively. Especially, the cedrus libani samples taken from the city centre which have heavy traffic and have not air current were found sensitive for Pb. The Pb, Cd and Cu concentrations in soil samples were found 3400-10112 ppb, 111-505 ppb and 12-38 ppm, respectively.