Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Growth Suppression and Adverse Effects on Human Health Due to Air Pollution in the Upper Silesian Industrial District (USID), Southern Poland

Abstract

Air pollution emissions were not continually monitored in the Upper Silesian Industrial District (USID), southern Poland, and data is only available for the last 20 years. Long-lasting and severe tree ring reductions in pines growing 5–20 km north of the USID area recorded particularly high levels of air pollution emissions in the period 1950–1990. Especially high amounts of reductions and many missing rings were found in the period 1964–1981. At the same time, pines growing 60 km west of the USID do not record deep ring reductions; this proves that the phenomenon is of a regional nature. Increases in infant mortality and lung, bronchial, and tracheal cancer morbidity rates among males were also recorded in the USID during periods of high air pollution. Infant mortality rates increased several years after the tree ring reductions. Therefore, it may be possible to use tree ring reductions as an early indicator of the occurrence of adverse effects on human health.

Variations of tree ring width and chemical composition of wood of pine growing in the area nearby chemical factories

“…The biological effects of pollutants stress on trees depend on the species and age of trees and the habitat condition where they grow (e.g. ; Danek 2007;Malik et al, 2012;Sensuła et al, 2015aSensuła et al, , 2015b.…”

“…Different methods of dendrochronological analysis were often used to evaluate the impact of pollution on the potential incremental trees (McLaughlin et al, 2002;Bascietto et al, 2004;Battipaglia et al, 2009;Eckstein and Schweingruber, 2009), A number of studies have investigated: the rate of trees with different degrees of growth reduction to the diameter and height (Kienast, 1985;Schweingruber, 1986;Danek, 2007;Elling et al, 2009;Malik et al, 2012;Crecente-Campo et al, 2010), differences in similarity in radial growth response of trees (Wilczynski, 2006). Scientific literature reviews have shown that, the size of reduction also depends on the distance from the source of pollution, directions prevailing winds and area orography (Krąpiec and Szychowska Krąpiec, 2001;Juknys et al, 2003Juknys et al, , 2014Wilczyński, 2006;Elling et al, 2009;Malik et al, 2012;Rydval and Wilson, 2012;Bošela et al, 2014).…”

“…Scientific literature reviews have shown that, the size of reduction also depends on the distance from the source of pollution, directions prevailing winds and area orography (Krąpiec and Szychowska Krąpiec, 2001;Juknys et al, 2003Juknys et al, , 2014Wilczyński, 2006;Elling et al, 2009;Malik et al, 2012;Rydval and Wilson, 2012;Bošela et al, 2014).…”

Climatic signals in tree-ring width and stable isotopes composition of <i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L. Growing in the industrialized area nearby Kędzierzyn-Koźle

“…The strength of the negative impact of pollution on trees can be varied in space and depends on the habitat conditions and distance from the source of pollution, directions of prevailing winds (Wilczyński, 2006;Danek, 2007;Elling et al, 2009;Malik et al, 2012). The trees, growing under stress of the pollutants, reduce their radial growth and height growth (Kienast, 1985, Schweingruber, 1986Krąpiec and Szychowska-Krapiec, 2001;Danek, 2007;Elling et al, 2009;Malik et al, 2012;Crecente-Campo et al, 2010). Also the differences in the similarity of radial growth response of pines to individual climate factors (temperature, sunshine, precipitation, air humidity) has been observed (for example Sensula et al, 2015aSensula et al, , 2015b.…”

Some considerations in the reconstruction of lead levels using laser ablation: lessons from the design stage of dendrochemistry study, St.John's, Canada

“…Trees are another source of long-term data on pollution (e.g. Stravinskiene et al, 2013, Malik et al, 2012. Annual growth rings of trees have the potential to record and preserve annually resolved metal concentrations from atmospheric and soil sources, a technique known as dendrochemistry (Watmough, 1999, McLaughlin et al, 2002.…”