The effects on forest of air pollution from energy production: application of the PIXE method to elemental analysis of pine needles from the years 1959–1979

Abstract

Long-term effects of air pollutants emitted in energy production were studied by analyzing pine needles (Pinussylvestris L.) from 1959–1979 corresponding to the natural fall. The needles originate in different parts of Finland between the latitudes 60 and 68° N. New procedures were introduced to apply the sensitive X-ray fluorescence (PIXE) method to elemental analysis of the needles. Concentrations were shown to be lower in northern Finland than in southern Finland. Several elemental concentrations follow an annual increase in the southern part of the country, but not in northern rural areas.