Comparison of the element composition in several plant species and their substrate from a 1 500 000-km(2) area in Northern Europe

Leaves of 9 different plant species (terrestrial moss represented by: Hyloc omium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi; and 7 species of vascular plants: blueberry, Vaccinium myrtillus; cowberry, Vaccinium vitis-idaea; crowberry , Empetrum nigrum; birch, Betula pubescens; willow, Salix spp.; pine, Pinus sylvestris and spruce, Picea abies) have been collected from up to 9 catch ments (size 14-50 km(2)) spread over a 1500000 km(2) area in Northern Europ e. Soil samples were taken of the O-horizon and of the C-horizon at each pl ant sample site. All samples were analysed for 38 elements (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Nat Ni, P, Ph, R b, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Th, TI, U, V, Y, Zn and Zr) by ICP-MS, ICP-AE S or CV-AAS (for Hg-analysis) techniques. The concentrations of some elemen ts vary significantly between different plants (e.g. Cd, V, Co, Ph, Ba and Y). Other elements show surprisingly similar levels in all plants (e.g. Rb, S, Cu, K, Ca, P and Mg). Each group of plants (moss, shrubs, deciduous and conifers) shows a common behaviour for some elements. Each plant accumulat es or excludes some selected elements. Compared to the C-horizon, a number of elements (S, K, B, Ca, P and Mn) are clearly enriched in plants. Element s showing very low plant/C-horizon ratios (e.g. Zr, Th, U, Y, Fe, Li and Al ) can be used as an indicator of minerogenic dust. The plant/O-horizon and O-horizon/C-horizon ratios show that some elements are accumulated in the O -horizon (e.g. Pb, Bi, As, Ag, Sb). Airborne organic material attached to t he leaves can thus, result in high values of these elements without any pol lution source. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.