Challenges in the Application of Dendrochemistry in Research on Historical Environmental Pollution in an Old Copper Mining Area

This research investigates the long-term environmental impact and historical temporal pollution patterns caused by a former copper mine in Iwiny (south-western Poland) using a dendrochemical approach. An additional aspect of this research was considering the possibility of using the inductively coup...

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Autores principales:	Joanna Dobrzańska, Paweł Lochyński, Robert Kalbarczyk, Monika Ziemiańska
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	tree rings ICP-OES ICP-MS trace elements tailings storage facility Plant ecology QK900-989
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/a1111273b7fb4e78bc89e01ab2e2dabe
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:a1111273b7fb4e78bc89e01ab2e2dabe2021-11-25T17:38:02ZChallenges in the Application of Dendrochemistry in Research on Historical Environmental Pollution in an Old Copper Mining Area10.3390/f121115051999-4907https://doaj.org/article/a1111273b7fb4e78bc89e01ab2e2dabe2021-10-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/11/1505https://doaj.org/toc/1999-4907This research investigates the long-term environmental impact and historical temporal pollution patterns caused by a former copper mine in Iwiny (south-western Poland) using a dendrochemical approach. An additional aspect of this research was considering the possibility of using the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) measurement technique as a cheaper alternative to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in dendrochemical analyses conducted in copper mining areas. In the study area, a tailings storage facility (TSF) dam failure (1967) took place and the alkaline flotation waste containing high concentration of Cu and Pb are stored. Tree cores from pedunculate oak (<i>Quercus robur</i> L.) were analysed for the content of 11 trace elements (TEs) (Cd, Mn, Ni, Zn, Cr, Co, Pb, Cu, Fe, Al, Ag) using the ICP-OES technique, while tree rings’ widths (TRWs) were also measured. Samples that were most significant in the context of the research goals were verified with the ICP-MS method. The results revealed the strong long-term impact of the copper industry as reflected in a substantial increase in the mean contents of: (1) Mn, Ni, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu and Fe in industrial vs. control trees, (2) TRWs for control vs. industrial trees. However, the observed patterns of TEs and TRWs did not correspond to the known timing of pollution inputs (mining activity, tailings spill). Peak levels were observed for Zn and Fe after the mine was closed. The lack of new sources of pollution and the temporal relationship strongly suggests that the tree rings recorded the chemical signal of the TSF reclamation (the use of fertilizers and agrotechnical interventions). Patterns of 7 elements were detected in most of the samples by ICP-OES (Co and Cd were not detected, Al and Ag were partly detected), while ICP-MS detected all of the elements. Significant differences were obtained for Ag, Cd, and Co. Despite challenges with the application of dendrochemistry in research on old mining areas (e.g., lack of old trees), it has proved to be a useful tool for investigating the aggregate environmental impact.Joanna DobrzańskaPaweł LochyńskiRobert KalbarczykMonika ZiemiańskaMDPI AGarticletree ringsICP-OESICP-MStrace elementstailings storage facilityPlant ecologyQK900-989ENForests, Vol 12, Iss 1505, p 1505 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	tree rings ICP-OES ICP-MS trace elements tailings storage facility Plant ecology QK900-989
spellingShingle	tree rings ICP-OES ICP-MS trace elements tailings storage facility Plant ecology QK900-989 Joanna Dobrzańska Paweł Lochyński Robert Kalbarczyk Monika Ziemiańska Challenges in the Application of Dendrochemistry in Research on Historical Environmental Pollution in an Old Copper Mining Area
description	This research investigates the long-term environmental impact and historical temporal pollution patterns caused by a former copper mine in Iwiny (south-western Poland) using a dendrochemical approach. An additional aspect of this research was considering the possibility of using the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) measurement technique as a cheaper alternative to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in dendrochemical analyses conducted in copper mining areas. In the study area, a tailings storage facility (TSF) dam failure (1967) took place and the alkaline flotation waste containing high concentration of Cu and Pb are stored. Tree cores from pedunculate oak (<i>Quercus robur</i> L.) were analysed for the content of 11 trace elements (TEs) (Cd, Mn, Ni, Zn, Cr, Co, Pb, Cu, Fe, Al, Ag) using the ICP-OES technique, while tree rings’ widths (TRWs) were also measured. Samples that were most significant in the context of the research goals were verified with the ICP-MS method. The results revealed the strong long-term impact of the copper industry as reflected in a substantial increase in the mean contents of: (1) Mn, Ni, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu and Fe in industrial vs. control trees, (2) TRWs for control vs. industrial trees. However, the observed patterns of TEs and TRWs did not correspond to the known timing of pollution inputs (mining activity, tailings spill). Peak levels were observed for Zn and Fe after the mine was closed. The lack of new sources of pollution and the temporal relationship strongly suggests that the tree rings recorded the chemical signal of the TSF reclamation (the use of fertilizers and agrotechnical interventions). Patterns of 7 elements were detected in most of the samples by ICP-OES (Co and Cd were not detected, Al and Ag were partly detected), while ICP-MS detected all of the elements. Significant differences were obtained for Ag, Cd, and Co. Despite challenges with the application of dendrochemistry in research on old mining areas (e.g., lack of old trees), it has proved to be a useful tool for investigating the aggregate environmental impact.
format	article
author	Joanna Dobrzańska Paweł Lochyński Robert Kalbarczyk Monika Ziemiańska
author_facet	Joanna Dobrzańska Paweł Lochyński Robert Kalbarczyk Monika Ziemiańska
author_sort	Joanna Dobrzańska
title	Challenges in the Application of Dendrochemistry in Research on Historical Environmental Pollution in an Old Copper Mining Area
title_short	Challenges in the Application of Dendrochemistry in Research on Historical Environmental Pollution in an Old Copper Mining Area
title_full	Challenges in the Application of Dendrochemistry in Research on Historical Environmental Pollution in an Old Copper Mining Area
title_fullStr	Challenges in the Application of Dendrochemistry in Research on Historical Environmental Pollution in an Old Copper Mining Area
title_full_unstemmed	Challenges in the Application of Dendrochemistry in Research on Historical Environmental Pollution in an Old Copper Mining Area
title_sort	challenges in the application of dendrochemistry in research on historical environmental pollution in an old copper mining area
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/a1111273b7fb4e78bc89e01ab2e2dabe
work_keys_str_mv	AT joannadobrzanska challengesintheapplicationofdendrochemistryinresearchonhistoricalenvironmentalpollutioninanoldcopperminingarea AT pawełlochynski challengesintheapplicationofdendrochemistryinresearchonhistoricalenvironmentalpollutioninanoldcopperminingarea AT robertkalbarczyk challengesintheapplicationofdendrochemistryinresearchonhistoricalenvironmentalpollutioninanoldcopperminingarea AT monikaziemianska challengesintheapplicationofdendrochemistryinresearchonhistoricalenvironmentalpollutioninanoldcopperminingarea
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Challenges in the Application of Dendrochemistry in Research on Historical Environmental Pollution in an Old Copper Mining Area

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