Pinusas an atmospheric hg biomonitor

Abstract
Pine was studied as a biomonitor of atmospheric mercury. For this purpose seven species of pine in three different areas (mining, volcanic and urban) were considered. Needles, branches and roots were analyzed for mercury and their metal concentrations studied in relation to those of atmosphere and soil. The relations between the Hg content in the different plant parts and between Hg concentration and the age of needles were studied as well. The difficulties and limits of pine as a mercury biomonitor are discussed.