Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Growth Suppression and Adverse Effects on Human Health Due to Air Pollution in the Upper Silesian Industrial District (USID), Southern Poland

• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-012-1114-8
• Publication Date: 2012-02-29T06:00:35Z
• Authors: Ireneusz Malik; Małgorzata Danek; Ewa Marchwińska-W...; Tomasz Danek; Małgorzata Wistuba; Marek Krąpiec
• Keywords: Scots pine

Air pollution emissions were not continually monitored in the Upper Silesian Industrial District (USID), southern Poland, and data is only available for last 20 years. Long-lasting severe tree ring reductions pines growing 5-20 km north of USID area recorded particularly high levels air period 1950-1990. Especially amounts many missing rings found 1964-1981. At same time, 60 west do record deep reductions; this proves that phenomenon a regional nature. Increases infant mortality lung, bronchial, tracheal cancer morbidity rates among males also during periods pollution. Infant increased several years after reductions. Therefore, it may be possible to use as an early indicator occurrence adverse effects on human health.