Utilization of scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) as biomonitor for determination of heavy metal pollution in Gumushane province

This study was carried out to investigate the usage of scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) leaves as biomonitor in heavy metal pollution and to determine the levels of heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr, Al, Co, As and Hg, quantitatively in Gumushane province by utilizing this plant. For this purpose scotch pine samples were collected from 35 different localities from the city center, organized industrial zone, highway area and industrial zone where the heavy metal pollution may be at high levels. In addition, the samples were collected from 7 different control points where the contamination is minimal. Prior to heavy metal analysis leaf samples were digested in a closed vessel microwave system using appropriate solvent mixtures. Then the samples were diluted to the appropriate volume and analyzed for the heavy metals by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In the study, the highest mean Pb, Cr, Al, Mn and Co levels were obtained as 7,44 µg g-1, 1,09 µg g-1, 764,6 µg g-1, 144,2 µg g-1 and 0,17 µg g-1, respectively in the industrial zone, the highest mean Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn levels were found as 0,25 µg g-1, 4,69 µg g-1, 0,93 µg g-1 and 53,5 µg g-1, respectively in the highway area, the highest Fe amount was obtained as 379,3 µg g-1 in the city center while the highest As level was determined as 0,78 µg g-1 in the organized industrial zone. The Hg levels were obtained below detection limit in all the analyzed plant leaves. Although the Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, Cr and Co concentrations were detected lower than the tolerable limits of them in the plant samples, the Al levels were obtained higher than the tolerable limits of it in the plant samples in all analyzed leaf samples.