Usability of Kazdaği fir (Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani (Asc. & Sint. ex Boiss) Coode & Cullen) as a biomonitor for heavy metal pollution monitoring

Heavy metals are perhaps the most important among the components of air pollution, which is one of the most critical problems on a global scale. The most important reason for this is that some heavy metals have toxic or carcinogenic effects on living things, especially humans, even at low concentrations. In addition, almost all metals can have a toxic effect on the human body when taken above a certain amount. In addition to these damages, heavy metals do not easily deteriorate and disappear in nature. They also tend to bioaccumulate in living bodies. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor the change of heavy metal concentrations in the air. Monitoring heavy metals is especially important in areas with high population density in urban centers. In urban centers, vehicles are a primary source of pollution. Exhaust gases of vehicles, tires, vehicle abrasions contribute significantly to the heavy metal concentration in the air. One of the most effective methods of monitoring heavy metal pollution in the air is biomonitors. Biomonitors can be defined as the most sensitive and accurate organisms that accumulate metals or pollutants in their bodies. The most reliable results in monitoring the change in heavy metal pollution in the air are given by studies on perennial organs of the plant, whose age is easily determined. Using species whose needles can remain on the plant for many years and whose branch age can be determined as a biomonitor; provides significant advantages in being a sustainable method and comparing the changes in heavy metal concentrations in the recent past. In this study, it was tried to determine the possibilities of using Kazdagi fir, which is one of the species whose needles can stay on the tree for many years and whose organ age can be calculated, as a biomonitor in determining the change in heavy metal concentrations in the recent past. Within the scope of the study, the changes in the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Co, Cu, Al, Ca, K, Na, and Mg elements in Kazdağı fir based on organ (needle, bark, and wood), organ age, and traffic density were evaluated. However, the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Co, and Cu elements could not be evaluated since they were below the detectable limits in most of the samples. As a result of the study, it was determined that the change of Al, Ca, and K elements depending on the traffic density according to the average values was not statistically significant, while only the concentration of the Mg element increased partially with the traffic density. The fact that the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Co, and Cu, which are the most important heavy metals, remained below the detectable limits can be interpreted to indicate that the species subject to the study is not a suitable biomonitor for monitoring these heavy metal pollutions.