Beech foliage as a bioindicator of pollution near a waste incinerator

Since 1971 unshaded leaves from the top of marked beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) in the vicinity of a regional waste incinerator have been sampled every year in early September. The unwashed leaf samples were analyzed for the concentration of Cl- and, in some years, for 16 other elements. The operation of the waste incinerator distinctly increased the Cl- concentration in the foliage. When the flue gas filtration did not work properly, several other elements also accumulated (without any obvious dust accumulation). There were no significant correlations between precipitation and concentration of water-soluble elements in foliage samples. This suggested that precipitation was not accelerating foliar leaching so that the bioindication of pollutant accumulation is not restricted in foliage with a well developed cuticula.