<b>Study of atmospheric pollution levels by trace elements analysis of tree bark and leaves</b>

Abstract

The concentrations of Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe, and Mn in leaf and bark samples of 7 tree species at 22 sampling locations with different pollution levels, in Ogbomoso, Nigeria, were investigated. The metal concentrations (mean  RSD in g g-1) in leaf and bark samples, respectively, were: Pb, 20370, 282120; Cu, 19.54.2, 12.72.6; Zn, 42.712.9, 42.813.1; Ni, 30.011.1, 20.09.9; Fe, 869348, 504118; and Mn, 10818, 73.713.8. The high-pollution automobile parking lots showed higher levels of these elements (p < 0.05). The correlation coefficient between element pairs of high and low-pollution automobile parking lots was carried out to determine the extent of relationship between the elements investigated.

Keywords

• Atmospheric pollution
• Trace elements analysis
• Tree bark
• Tree leaves