Tree rings record of long-term atmospheric Hg pollution in the Monte Amiata mining district (Central Italy): lessons from the past for a better future.

Trees may represent useful long-term monitors of historical trends of atmospheric pollution due to the trace elements stored along the tree rings caused by modifications in the environment during a tree’s life. Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) tree trunk sections were used to document the yearly evolution of atmospheric Hg in the world-class mining district of Monte Amiata (MAMD; Central Italy) and were exploited until 1982. An additional source of Hg emissions in the area have been the active geothermal power plants. A marked decrease (from >200 microng/kg to <100 microng/kg) in Hg contents in heartwood tree rings is recorded, likely because of mine closure; the average contents (tens of microng/kg) in recent years remain higher than in a reference area ~150 km away from the district (average 4.6 microng/kg). Chestnut barks, recording present-day Hg pollution, systematically show higher Hg concentrations than sapwood (up to 394 microng/kg in the mining area). This study shows that tree rings may be a good record of the atmospheric Hg changes in areas affected by mining activity and geothermal plants and can be used as a low-cost biomonitoring method for impact minimization and optimal resource and land management.