ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS IN SCOTS PINE NEEDLES ON RADIAL TRANSECTS ACROSS A SUB-ARCTIC AREA

Concentrations of aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), calcium (Ca), cadmium (Cd), chlorine (Cl), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), phosphorus (P), lead (Pb), sulphur (S), silicon (Si) and zinc (Zn) were measured by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) in Scots pine needles collected from t ransects across Finnish Lapland and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. Ni, Cu, Fe, P and S concentrations were significantly higher in the needle s collected in the vicinity of the smelters in Monchegorsk, whereas Mn and Zn decreased towards Monchegorsk. No distinct increase of S or de crease of Mn and Zn concentrations in the needles were observed when a pproaching Nikel. Foliar S concentrations were higher in C needles tha n in C+1 needles, even in plots close to the smelters. The effect of t he emissions from the smelters was clearly seen in the needle chemistr y up to 50 km away from smelters and was still perceivable over 100 km away.