IMPACT OF AIR POLLUTION EMITTED FROM THE CEMENT INDUSTRY ON FOREST BIOPRODUCTION
M. MANDRE
K. OTS
J. RAUK
L. TUULMETS
Department of Ecophysiology,
Forest Research Institute
Estonian Agricultural University
18b Viljandi St., Tallinn
11216 Estonia
| Research has shown that alkaline emissions of the Kunda Cement Plant in NE Estonia cause changes in the
physiological-biochemical conditions of conifers reducing their bioproduction and vitality. The dependence of radial
increment of 75-85-year old Pinus sylvestris L. and Picea abies L. on high concentrations of K and Ca in the growth
environment (soil, precipitation, air) and the level of pollution load is discussed. Among the pollutants emitted by
the Kunda Cement Plant, of which dust (pH = 12.3-12.6) has accounted for 87-96 % in recent years, alkaline components
predominate. These have an important effect on the reaction (pH = 7.2-7.9) and chemical composition of precipitation. A clear fall can be observed in the radial increment of pine and spruce on observation sites at a distance of 2-3 km to the west and up to 5 km to the east form the cement plant where the emission load is especially big (1000- 2400 g m-2 yr-1). The effect of alkaline dust pollution on conifers growing farther away from the cement plant (5-15 km to the west and over 10 km to the east, 100-300 g m-2 yr-1) is insignificant. |