Geochemistry of soils and vegetation of the Holy Cross Mts. between 1994 and 1996

Abstract

The results of element and sulphur isotope determinations performed on soils from tile Holy Cross Mts. region showed that many elements were elevated primarily due to air pollution. The chemical analyses performed on samples collected in 1996 indicated the raised content of many elements, especially Hg, Pb and S, in topsoil. The most contaminated site was  Łysica Mt., the tallest mountain of the region, showing the maximum content of many elements. In addition, the lowest pH values and the highest concentrations of PAHs were recorded here. The geometric mean values of a large number of elements, especially As Cr, Hg, Pb and S, were higher in the Holy Cross Mts. than those in Poland. Scots pine needles from Holy Cross Mountain National Park contained much more Mg than those from the remaining part of the Holy Cross Mts. Compared to the oldest needles, the youngest from the same crop revealed the raised content of Cu. K, Mg, Ni, P and heavy sulphur isotope and the drop of AI, Ba, Ca, Fe, Hg, Mg, Pb, Sr. Ti and Zn. On the other hand, the one-year needles collected in 1994 to 1996 showed the decrease of Cu, K, Mg, Ni, P and S. The needles of all age classes yielded elevated concentrations of B, Mn, P, S, Zn and heavy sulphur isotope; the bark revealed more Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Fe, Hg, La, Pb, Ti, V, Y and Vb. In turn, the lichen species Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. was enriched in Fe, Hg, K, Mg, P, S, Ti, Zn and heavy sulphur isotope relative to pine bark. The content of sulphur in pine needles and lichens was generally close to that from Finnish Lapland or rural parts of Scandinavia. Moreover, concentrations of heavy metals in pine needles were similar, whereas those in lichens were higher compared to those in northern and eastern Finland