Determination of trace elements in the plants of Mt. Bozdag, Izmir, Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the current level of atmospheric heavy metal content on the Bozdag Mountain of the Aegean Region, Turkey. Twenty nine different plants were selected to study their potential as biomonitors of trace elements such as Ni, Zn, Fe, Pb, Mn and Cd (μg g-1, dry weight). The samples were collected from two different altitudes of Mt. Bozdag. The concentrations of trace elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean concentrations determined at 1000 m altitude ranged from 0.025 to 1.609, 0.232 to 0.731, 0.578 to 5.983, 0.287 to 0.565 and 0.176 to 2.659 (μg g-1, dry weight), for Ni, Zn, Fe, Pb and Mn, respectively. At the altitude of 1600 m, the values ranged from 0.023 to 0.939, 0.258 to 1.254, 0.839 to 5.176, 0.301 to 1.341 and 0.405 to 3.351 (μg g-1, dry weight) for Ni, Zn, Fe, Pb and Mn, respectively. No Cd was detected at either altitude. Statistical significance was determined by the independent sample t-test and comparisons were made in order to determine if there were any differences between the averages of herbaceous and woody plants.