Measurement of 14C Content in Leaves near a Cement Factory in Mount Lebanon

Abstract

Radiocarbon content in biogenic samples is widely used to study the variation of atmospheric CO2 due to anthropogenic activities. A total of 26 samples of evergreen and deciduous tree leaves, as well as seasonal small plant leaves, were analyzed for this study. Sampling was carried out at the end of the vegetation season from rural villages surrounding a cement factory in Mount Lebanon Province, Lebanon. Reference samples of identical species were collected during the same period from a clean zone. The conventional 14C method was used for the determination of Δ14C values. The data showed that the 14C concentration in the studied sites was significantly lower than the clean area, due to the release of anthropogenic CO2. In order to estimate the Suess effect, the fossil fuel fraction was determined based on equations of mass balance for CO2 concentration, stable isotopic composition of carbon, and 14C concentration. The results showed that selected locations are affected differently according to their distance from the factory and the wind direction.