Estimation of oak stand pollution with heavy metals on the Krotoszyn Plateau

Abstract

The content of heavy metals - Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu - in oak wood of Quercus robur L. and in the soil was investigated. The studies were carried out in five areas: on the Krotoszyn Plateau, in two areas of the Copper Basin, in the area of Zawiercie and in the control area in Kórnik. The results showed an elevated content of copper in the wood of oaks from the Krotoszyn Plateau as compared with oaks from the other investigated areas. The copper content in the examined oaks was 0.6 µg/g in Kórnik, 1.1 µg/g in Zawiercie, 3.9-15.8 µg/g in the Copper Basin, whereas in the oaks of the Krotoszyn Plateau it amounted to 7.0-26.5 µg/g. It was also noticed that there is a correlation between the copper content in the wood and sanitary condition of the trees. The content of other toxic metals in the oak stands of the Krotoszyn Plateau was on the level of non-polluted areas ranging between 0.08-0.21 µg/g for Cd, 0.12-0.45 µg/g for Pb and 9.1-14.7 µg/g for Zn.