BIOMONITORING OF HEAVY METAL POLLUTION THROUGH NEEDLES AND CONIFER BARK IN INDUSTRIAL AND URBAN AREAS OF THE JIU VALLEY

Abstract

Certain studies have determined specific conifers, which can be found in urban and industrial areas can be used to monitor the degree of air pollution being used for passive biomonitoring processes. The needles and bark of conifers taken from the industrial and urban areas of the Jiu Valley, mercury, chromium) and arsenic, after acid mineralization of the samples of pine bark (Pinus sp.), spruce (Picea Abies) and thuja (Thuja Occidentalis) and those taken from these conifers in the urban area and in the vicinity of the industrial units in the Jiu Valley. The processing of experimental data allowed the use of conifers to detect the accumulation and degree of heavy metal pollution. The results of this study show that the highest concentrations of heavy metals were found in areas with heavy traffic, as well as in the vicinity of industrial areas, the Jiu Valley, being an area with a highly developed mining industry. The lowest concentrations of heavy metals in the analyzed samples were found in the vicinity of recreational areas and parks.