Heavy metals accumulation in tree leaves from urban areas

• DOI: 10.1007/s10311-004-0081-8
• Publication Date: 2004-07-08T10:17:10Z
• Authors: M. Tomašević; S. Rajšić; D. Đorđević; M. Tasić; J. Krstić; V. Novaković
• Keywords: Heavy metals; 13. Climate action; Biomonitoring; 11. Sustainability; Atmospheric deposition; Urban pollution; 01 natural sciences; Tree leaves; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Higher plants may be used as biomonitors for the assessment of atmospheric heavy metal pollution by means of their bioaccumulative properties. We evaluated the reliability of biomonitoring heavy metal pollution by horse chestnut and linden leaves, common species found in Belgrade city parks. The results show that the highest concentrations of heavy metals were found in horse chestnut leaves at Studentski Park site, amounting to 110.2, 20.3 and 4.9 μg g−1 dry weight for Cu, Pb and Cd, respectively, which are considered above toxic levels for plants.