Spruce tree-ring reductions in relation to air pollution and human diseases a case study from Southern Poland

AbstractThe study was conducted in two small municipalities in Małopolskie voivodeship in Southern Poland. Both municipalities are located in mountain basins in the Western Beskids mountain range.Cores were taken from trees growing near the centre of Rabka-Zdrój and Sucha Beskidzka in order to analyse the impact of contemporary air pollution on the health of tree stands. Annual tree rings developed during the era of high atmospheric pollution are usually narrower than the others. These municipalities were chosen due to their current air pollution problems despite their relatively small population.Local chronology, skeleton plots and calculated ring reductions were created for the sample trees. Temporal relationships between air pollution and a negative health reaction in trees and in people were also examined. To fulfil this objective the dates of occurrence of tree-ring reductions were compared with the concentration of particulates (PM10) in the atmosphere and also lung disease morbidity in the local population. Two periods of reduced annual tree rings were detected: first from the 1960s to the end of the 1980s (associated with industrial pollution) and more recently the years since 2003. Since 2003 reductions of annual tree rings have increased in parallel with increases in dust pollution. This reaction of trees to dust pollution was immediate. The negative reaction of trees preceded several years of increasing lung disease morbidity. This gives basic evidence to support the argument that tree ring reductions could be used as an early bioindicator for warning against the risk of air pollution. The aim of this work was to determine the periods of reduction in the annual growth of spruce growing near the centre of Rabka-Zdrój and Sucha Beskidzka. In addition, potential associations were sought between the time of occurrence of these periods and changes in air pollution and human disease.

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Millennial minimum temperature variations in the Qilian Mountains, China: evidence from tree rings

Climate of the Past ◽

10.5194/cp-10-1763-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 1763-1778 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Y. Zhang ◽

X. M. Shao ◽

Z.-Y. Yin ◽

Y. Wang

Keyword(s):

Tibetan Plateau ◽

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Minimum Temperature ◽

Volcanic Eruptions ◽

Qilian Mountains ◽

Tree Ring Chronology ◽

Northeastern Tibetan Plateau ◽

Reconstructed Temperature ◽

The Impact

Abstract. A 1343-year tree-ring chronology was developed from Qilian junipers in the central Qilian Mountains of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau (TP), China. The climatic implications of this chronology were investigated using simple correlation, partial correlation and response function analyses. The chronology was significantly positively correlated with temperature variables prior to and during the growing season, especially with monthly minimum temperature. Minimum temperature anomalies from January to August since AD 670 were then reconstructed based on the tree-ring chronology. The reconstruction explained 58% of the variance in the instrumental temperature records during the calibration period (1960–2012) and captured the variation patterns in minimum temperature at the annual to centennial timescales over the past millennium. The most recent 50 years were the warmest period, while 1690–1880 was the coldest period since AD 670. Comparisons with other temperature series from neighbouring regions and for the Northern Hemisphere as a whole supported the validity of our reconstruction and suggested that it provided a good regional representation of temperature change in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. The results of wavelet analysis showed the occurrence of significant quasi-periodic patterns at a number of recurring periods (2–4, 40–50, and 90–170 years), which were consistent with those associated with El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and solar activity. The comparison between the reconstructed temperature and the index of tropical volcanic radiative forcing indicated that some cold events recorded by tree rings may be due to the impact of tropical volcanic eruptions.

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Air Pollution and Climate Drive Annual Growth in Ponderosa Pine Trees in Southern California

Climate ◽

10.3390/cli9050082 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 82

Author(s):

Hillary S. Jenkins

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Ponderosa Pine ◽

N Deposition ◽

Stepwise Multiple Regression ◽

Tree Ring Chronology ◽

Pine Trees ◽

Warming World ◽

The Impact

The ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa, Douglas ex C. Lawson) is a climate-sensitive tree species dominant in the mixed conifer stands of the San Bernardino Mountains of California. However, the close proximity to the city of Los Angeles has resulted in extremely high levels of air pollution. Nitrogen (N) deposition, resulting from nitrous oxides emitted from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, has been recorded in this region since the 1980s. The impact of this N deposition on ponderosa pine growth is complex and often obscured by other stressors including climate, bark beetle attack, and tropospheric ozone pollution. Here I use a 160-year-long (1855–2015) ponderosa pine tree ring chronology to examine the annual response of tree growth to both N deposition and climate in this region. The chronology is generated from 34 tree cores taken near Crestline, CA. A stepwise multiple regression between the tree ring chronology and various climate and air pollution stressors indicates that drought conditions at the end of the rainy season (March) and NO2 pollution during the water year (pOct-Sep) exhibit primary controls on growth (r2-adj = 0.65, p < 0.001). The direct correlation between NO2 and tree growth suggests that N deposition has a positive impact on ponderosa pine bole growth in this region. However, it is important to note that ozone, a known stressor to ponderosa pine trees, and NO2 are also highly correlated (r = 0.84, p < 0.05). Chronic exposure to both ozone and nitrogen dioxide may, therefore, have unexpected impacts on tree sensitivity to climate and other stressors in a warming world.

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Impact of Air Pollution on Scots Pine Stands Growing in Poland on the Basis of Dendrochronological Analysis

Environmental Sciences Proceedings ◽

10.3390/iecf2020-07999 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 77

Author(s):

Longina Chojnacka-Ożga ◽

Wojciech Ożga

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Forest Health ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Pollutant Emission ◽

Industrial Emissions ◽

Reference Plot ◽

Dendrochronological Analysis ◽

The Impact

Air pollution and climate change are two key factors comprising the global change threat to forest health and sustainability. The intensive development of industry in the second half of the 20th century brought significant changes in the level of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere in Poland. Dry and wet deposition of toxic pollutants (mainly SO2, NOx, and NH3), continuing over more than 40 years, has caused serious damage to forest stands. One of the ways for describing the effect of industrial emissions on forests is tree-rings (dendrochronological) analysis, which has been used in our research. We present a brief description of the studies on the impact of air pollution on the growth of forests growing in the most polluted areas of Poland. The main aim is to evaluate Scots pine stand degradation caused by the pollutants emitted from one of biggest polluters of the environment in Poland for over 25 years (1966–1990). We found that pollutant emission caused disturbances of incremental dynamics and long-term strong reduction of growth. Scots pine growing in the vicinity of the nitrogen fertilizer factory showed a dramatic growth reduction after the beginning of the pollution period. Significant decrease in growth was observed for the majority of investigated trees (75%) to the end of the 1990s. The zone of destruction extends primarily in easterly and southern directions, from the pollution source, associated with the prevailing winds of the region. At the end of the 1990s, the decreasing trend stopped and the wider tree-rings could be observed. This situation was related to a radical reduction in ammonia emissions and an improvement in environmental conditions. However, the growth of damaged trees due to the weakened health condition is lower than the growth of Scots pine on the reference plot and trees are more sensitive to stressful climatic conditions, especially to drought.

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The success of emissions control legislation in mitigating air pollution is higher than previously estimated

10.5194/acp-2016-63 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Nikos Daskalakis ◽

Kostas Tsigaridis ◽

Stelios Myriokefalitakis ◽

George S. Fanourgakis ◽

Maria Kanakidou

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Energy Demand ◽

Local Population ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Atmospheric Composition ◽

Anthropogenic Emissions ◽

Technological Advances ◽

Starting Point ◽

The Impact

Abstract. During the last 30 years significant effort has been made to improve air quality through legislation for emissions reduction. Global three-dimensional chemistry-transport simulations of atmospheric composition changes over the past three decades have been performed to assess the impact of these measures. The simulations are based on assimilated meteorology to account for the year-to-year observed climate variability and on different anthropogenic emissions scenarios of pollutants which may or may not account for air quality legislation application. The ACCMIP dataset historical emissions are used as the starting point. We show that air quality legislation has been more efficient than thought in limiting the rapid increase of air pollutants due to significant technology development. The achieved reductions in nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, black carbon and sulphate aerosols are found to be significant when comparing to simulations neglecting legislation for the protection of the environment. We also show the large tropospheric air-quality benefit from the development of cleaner technology. These 30-year hindcast simulations demonstrate that the actual benefit in air quality due to air pollution legislation and technological advances is higher than the gain calculated by a simple comparison against a constant anthropogenic emissions simulation, as is usually done. Our results also indicate that over China and India the beneficial technological advances for the air-quality have been masked by the explosive increase in local population and the disproportional increase in energy demand.

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Impact of air pollution on forest stands in the vicinity of Wodzisław Śląski and Rybnik, Poland

Geology, Geophysics and Environment ◽

10.7494/geol.2019.45.4.283 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 45 (4) ◽

pp. 283

Author(s):

Joanna Barniak ◽

Agnieszka Jureczko

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Tree Ring ◽

Scots Pine ◽

Ring Width ◽

Forest Stands ◽

Increment Core ◽

Pine Trees ◽

Pine Stands ◽

The Impact ◽

Scots Pine Stands

Tree-ring analysis was used to investigate the impact of air pollution on forest stands in the southern part of the Upper Silesia region of southern Poland. Four about 120 years old Scots pine stands located near Wodzisław Śląski and Rybnik were selected for study and 20 increment core samples from each stand were taken. All study stands were selected based upon their considerable exposure to air and dust pollution.The results of dendrochronological analysis showed strong and significant reductions in tree ring growth especially during the period from 1960 to 1990. A significant number of trees with reductions (85%) was observed in two Scots pine stands both of which are directly exposed to air pollution from mine-owned coking plant and power and heating plants. Since 1990s the improved growth of these pines was clearly noted. A comparison for the period 1970 to 1990 for stands located west from the main emitters’ versus stands east and directly exposed found fewer trees with growth reductions (ca. 40%). At the beginning of the 21st century, a large number of trees in these western stands were observed with growth reductions between 50 and 60%. Probably, these trees were affected by air pollution from a nearby power plant located immediately across the border in the Czech Republic. Relationships between periods of severe reductions in ring width growth or missing rings were noted in a large percentage of pine trees in all four stands; these cross-stand relationships suggested common weather-related impacts. Missing rings were noted in 1956, 1963, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1976 and 1979.

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Kemampuan Tanaman Karet Dalam Menurunkan Kadar Dust Fall Di Sekitar Jalan Angkutan Batubara

JURNAL KESEHATAN LINGKUNGAN: Jurnal dan Aplikasi Teknik Kesehatan Lingkungan ◽

10.31964/jkl.v15i1.84 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 573

Author(s):

Vista Septiani Putri ◽

Junaidi Junaidi ◽

Munawar Raharja

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Raw Material ◽

Control Group ◽

Research Use ◽

Dust Pollution ◽

Dust Fall ◽

Before And After ◽

Haul Road ◽

The Impact ◽

Simple Regression

The Ability Rubber Plants in Lowering to Dust Fall Level Along the Coal Haul Road.Changes in air environment are generally caused by air pollution. Coal transportasion activity make the impact of air pollution such as dust fall along the coal haul road. A solution to handling dust fall along the coal haul road with vegetation of plant which have ability to reduce dust fall particles. The purpose of this research is to know the ability rubber plants in lowering the dust fall level along coal haul road. The benefit as raw material inputs in controlling of dust pollution in environment using berrier plant. The method of this research use a field experiment with design pretest and posttest with control group. The population of this research is the dust fall level and samples research is dust that measured on 4 location that represent the diffrences landscape 50 m, 100 m, 150 m and 200 m. Every width of landscape measure of 2 samples poin before and after of a landscape. It done in 5 times replicas.Data analysis using a simple regression. There is influence of rubber plant ability to decrease dust content to the distance determined with result of percentage of degradation of dust settled at 50 meter distance without barrier 48,0% to distance 50 meter with barrier 57,0%.

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Particulate air pollution and impaired lung function

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.7108.1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 201 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Laura Paulin ◽

Nadia Hansel

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Lung Function ◽

Lung Disease ◽

Care Utilization ◽

Objective Measurements ◽

Particulate Air Pollution ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Impaired Lung Function ◽

The Impact ◽

Published Research

Air pollution is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world, particularly in individuals with existing lung disease. Of the most common air pollutants, particulate matter (PM) is associated with an increased risk of exacerbations and respiratory symptoms in individuals with existing lung disease, and to a lesser extent, in those without known respiratory issues. The majority of published research has focused on the effects of PM exposures on symptoms and health care utilization. Fewer studies focus on the impact of PM on objective measurements of pulmonary function. This review will focus on the effects of PM exposure on objective measurements of lung function in both healthy individuals and those with existing lung disease.

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

Geochronometria ◽

10.1515/geochr-2015-0070 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 240-255 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Barbara Sensuła ◽

Sławomir Wilczyński

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotopes ◽

Pinus Sylvestris ◽

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Climate Changes ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Ring Width ◽

Spectrometric Analysis ◽

Tree Ring Width ◽

The Impact

Abstract The main aims of these studies were dendrochronological and mass spectrometric analysis of the impact of climate on tree rings width and stable isotopes composition in pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). The conifers were growing in the vicinity of chemical and nitrogen factories in Kędzierzyn-Koźle (Poland) in the period of time from 1920s to 2012 AD. The combined usage of tree ring width and isotopic composition data provides historic records of the environment changes. These data allows identifying the behavior adaptation of pine growing under pollution stress to climate changes. The incremental rhythm of the studied pine populations was not identical, probably due to their different sensitivities to some climatic factors. This study evidences that the isotopic records in tree-rings α-cellulose may be sensitive bio-indicators of the way that the components of air and water may be changed by the trees in response to the climate changes and anthropogenic effects. The water use efficiency may be strongly correlated with variability of the surface temperature that may be due to increase of CO2 emission.

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Reductions in tree-ring widths of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) as an indicator of air pollution in southern Poland

Environmental & Socio-economic Studies ◽

10.2478/environ-2018-0022 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 44-51

Author(s):

Katarzyna Łuszczyńska ◽

Małgorzata Wistuba ◽

Ireneusz Malik

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

World War Ii ◽

Tree Ring ◽

Abies Alba ◽

Silver Fir ◽

Industrial Region ◽

Southern Poland ◽

Pollution Levels ◽

Study Results ◽

Post War

AbstractThe aim of the study was to investigate how the emission of pollutants to the atmosphere from the late 19th century until modern times has been recorded in rings of silver fir trees growing in southern Poland. Samples were collected from 24 firs growing in the Beskid Niski Mountains (Western Carpathians). Using a Pressler borer, a single core was collected from each tree. Within the samples, tree-ring widths were measured. On this basis, reductions of tree-ring widths were calculated and subsequently divided into three classes according to their severity. Study results indicate that growth reductions at the site studied were influenced by the pollution emitted from the now-defunct Central Industrial Region, which developed most rapidly from 1920 to 1940, and began to decline after World War II. These emissions were probably responsible for reductions in the trees sampled in the years 1928–1947. On the other hand, reductions of tree-ring widths dating from 1951 to 1989 were caused by the post-war development of heavy industry throughout Poland, and in particular in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region, which developed at its most rapid rate from 1960 to 1990. The results obtained demonstrate that reductions of tree-ring widths in the silver firs studied are related to industrial air pollution in the 20th century. As industrial production declined and environmentally friendly technologies were introduced in the early 1990s, air pollution levels decreased and an increase in tree-ring widths followed in the silver firs studied. Further reductions of tree-ring widths have been observed in recent years (since 2009), which may be caused by air pollution due to low-stack emissions from domestic boilers. The analysis conducted demonstrates that a reduction in tree-ring widths in silver fir is a sensitive bioindicator of air pollution.

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A review of flood records from tree rings

Progress in Physical Geography Earth and Environment ◽

10.1177/0309133315608758 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 39 (6) ◽

pp. 794-816 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

J. A. Ballesteros-Cánovas ◽

M. Stoffel ◽

S. St George ◽

K. Hirschboeck

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Progress Report ◽

Woody Vegetation ◽

Future Perspectives ◽

Widespread Distribution ◽

Tree Ring Data ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Hazard Assessments ◽

The 1960S

Palaeohydrology is now recognized as a valuable approach to characterize the hazards posed by flooding. Tree rings have emerged as an important source of evidence for paleohydrological studies, and, since the 1960s, have been used to document the occurrence of past floods. In this progress report we outline the major contributions of tree-ring records to flood research. By reviewing the key advances in this field, documenting different research trajectories, and highlighting recent developments, we make an argument in favor of more extensive use of tree rings in flood analyses. We show how tree-ring data have been applied to risk assessment and outline how the widespread distribution of flood-affected trees can be used to improve the understanding of flood processes. In addition, we outline new approaches and future perspectives for the inclusion of woody vegetation in hazard assessments, and end with new thematic perspectives.

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