ACCUMULATION AND FATE OF C-1 C-2-CHLOROCARBONS AND TRICHLOROACETIC-ACID IN SPRUCE NEEDLES FROM AN AUSTRIAN MOUNTAIN SITE/

The concentration of volatile chlorocarbons (VCH) as well as one of th eir main degradation products, the trichloroacetic acid (TCA) were mea sured in spruce needles (Picea abies) harvested in October 1991 and Ma rch 1992 from the Christlum-profile (Achenkirch, Austria). While in Ma rch 1992 the VCH were in the same range with concentrations of pine ne edles from the urban area of Berlin, TCA accumulation was significantl y lower in Achenkirch. As observed for Pinus sylvestris during this se ason, the VCH contents often decreased with needle age whereas TCA inc reased. In the profile, maximum VCH concentrations in the spruce needl es were measured at 1050 m above sea level. At the same time (March 19 92), the detoxification enzyme for VCH, the glutathione S-transferase (GST), had its lowest activity, except for the oldest needles, int eh altitude of 1050 m. VCH and TCA concentrations seem to be intercorrela ted with GST activities in the needles, but statistical testing has to be performed with larger sample numbers.