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Related Experiment Videos

Arsenic uptake in orchard trees: implications for dendroanalysis.

R R Martin1, A Tomlin, B Marsello

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. rrhm@julian.uwo.ca

Chemosphere
|June 2, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Arsenic from pesticides accumulates in fruit tree stems, primarily in older heartwood and recent growth rings. This distribution pattern makes dendroanalysis unreliable for tracking historical arsenic exposure in trees.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Plant Biology
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Arsenical pesticides have been historically used in agriculture, leading to soil contamination.
  • Fruit trees can absorb soil contaminants, potentially accumulating them in their tissues.
  • Understanding arsenic distribution in trees is crucial for environmental monitoring and risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the spatial distribution of arsenic within the stems of fruit trees.
  • To determine the suitability of using dendroanalysis for reconstructing past arsenic exposure in fruit trees.

Main Methods:

  • Samples from fruit tree stems grown in arsenic-contaminated soils were analyzed.
  • Neutron activation analysis (NAA) was employed to quantify arsenic concentrations.

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Main Results:

  • Arsenic was predominantly found in the heartwood near the pith.
  • Elevated arsenic levels were also detected in the active xylem tissue of the most recent annual growth rings.
  • Concentrations varied significantly between different stem tissues and growth rings.

Conclusions:

  • Arsenic distribution in fruit tree stems is heterogeneous, with specific accumulation zones.
  • Dendroanalysis, relying on annual growth rings, is unlikely to provide a reliable chronology of arsenic exposure due to this uneven distribution.
  • Further research may be needed to explore alternative biomonitoring techniques for arsenic in woody plants.