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A preliminary study into the use of tree-ring and foliar geochemistry as bio-indicators for vehicular NOx pollution in Malta

Mifsud, Duncan V., Stüeken, Eva E., Wilson, Rob J. S. (2021) A preliminary study into the use of tree-ring and foliar geochemistry as bio-indicators for vehicular NOx pollution in Malta. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, 57 (3). pp. 301-315. ISSN 1025-6016. E-ISSN 1477-2639. (doi:10.1080/10256016.2021.1902319) (KAR id:95656)

Abstract

Emissions from traffic over the past few decades have become a significant source of air pollution. Among the pollutants emitted are nitrogen oxides (NOx), exposure to which can be detrimental to public health. Recent studies have shown that nitrogen (N) stable isotope ratios in tree-rings and foliage express a fingerprint of their major N source, making them appropriate for bio-monitoring purposes. In this study, we have applied this proxy to Aleppo pines (Pinus halepensis) at three distances from one of the busiest roads in Malta, a country known to suffer from intense traffic pollution. Our results showed that N and organic carbon (C) stable isotope ratios in tree-rings do not vary over the period 1980–2018 at any of the investigated sites; however, statistically significant spatial trends were apparent in both tree-rings and foliage. The roadside and transitional sites exhibited more positive δ15N and more negative δ13C values compared to those at a rural control site. This is likely due to the incorporation of 15N-enriched NOx and 13C-depleted CO2 from traffic pollution. Sampled top-soil also exhibited the δ15N trend. Our results constitute the first known application of dendrogeochemistry to atmospheric pollution monitoring in Malta.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/10256016.2021.1902319
Uncontrolled keywords: carbon-13, dendrogeochemistry, foliage, isotope ecology, Malta, motor vehicles, nitrogen-15, NOx, traffic, tree-rings
Subjects: Q Science
Q Science > QE Geology > QE515 Geochemistry
Q Science > QE Geology > QE516.4 Environmental geochemistry
Q Science > QK Botany
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User: Duncan Mifsud
Date Deposited: 21 Jul 2022 13:20 UTC
Last Modified: 22 Jul 2022 14:01 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/95656 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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