Metals and nutrients in Firm

The Federal Environment Agency analysed drill core samples of spruce in order to determine the occurrence and historical development of metal and nutrient contents by a novel method largely error-free. Due to the choice of locations and the age structure of the trees, the values collected are representative for Austria. Samples from the Dachstein region showed that during the last three centuries the content of heavy metals such as manganese and cadmium in spruce wood increased significantly. Since the beginning of industrialisation, the wood has also become richer in nickel and sulphur. The results of the study close the survey gap of the elemental content for this main tree species of the native forest, thus providing data and an important basis for environmental mass balances and modelling.