scholarly journals Dendroecological study of spruce growth in regions under long-term air pollution load 

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 536-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kroupová

The purpose of this study was to analyse increment cores from spruce growing in the Ore Mountains, Jizerské Mountains, and Giant Mountains, to evaluate the relationship between tree growth, climatic factors, and air pollution load. The sites from which sample cores were extracted were localised along an altitudinal gradient. Analytical methods included single pointer year analysis and simple linear regression. An unambiguous relationship between negative pointer years and climatic extremes was detected for growth increments prior to 1977. After 1977, minimum increment values also reflected the gradient of air pollution levels. In the eastern part of the Ore Mountains, an increased sensitivity of spruce to low temperatures and temperature breaks was evident. The dominant role of temperature during the winter period was confirmed by the results of correlation analysis. From this, I have concluded (indirectly) a long-term deleterious impact of sulphur dioxide, resulting in lower frost resistance of the spruce trees. Recent increment development suggested that the stands in the Giant Mountains overcame the critical period at the end of the 1980’s, and regenerated well. By contrast, the ecological stability of the Ore Mountain forests was disturbed due to chronic stress, and the existence of the stands is threatened.

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 109-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Gregorová ◽  
K. Černý ◽  
V. Holub ◽  
V. Strnadová

London plane (Platanus hispanica Mill.) is considered as very tolerant to pollution and other stresses and in the Czech Republic it has been unaffected by important pathogens until now. However, in recent years the health status of London plane has been significantly deteriorating. During an 11-year survey it was found out that development of London plane damage was characterized by important fluctuations. Minimum value of population damage was 3.6% and maximum 97.5%. The health status of London plane was negatively influenced by long-term precipitation totals, higher total precipitation in May, low average air temperatures in January and May and higher NO<sub>x</sub> concentrations in the vegetation season. Using the multiple regression analysis a highly significant regression model was obtained, wherein the average air temperatures in January and May explain together 84% variability of London plane population damage. During the period of the highest damage, planes were moreover affected by the pathogen Apiognomonia veneta (Sacc. et Spegg.) H&ouml;hn. &nbsp;


2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Žid ◽  
P. Čermák

In stands with the majority of spruce and aged over 70 years, 35 sample plots were laid out (in total 700 trees) in the vicinity of Anenský vrch Hill at altitudes over 800 m above sea level. In the course of the growing season 2005, the following parameters were determined: total defoliation, defoliation of the primary structure, percentage of secondary shoots, presence and extent of yellowing and browning. In 10 selected trees, branches were taken from crowns for morphological analyses and annual length increments of branches and numbers of secondary shoots in the particular years were determined. Total defoliation and the occurrence of yellowing were related to slope orientation and position of the plot towards the ridge. The number of shoots produced in the given year correlated with the level of annual NO<sub>3</sub> deposition. The determined difference in the occurrence of yellowing between limed and unlimed plots cannot be interpreted unambiguously because limed and unlimed plots differ in exposure at the same time. The determined importance of slope orientation for the health condition of a stand shows that under the simultaneous air pollution load climatic factors are a factor deciding on the resulting effect of the synergetic action of stressors on forest stands.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Łukasz Kuźma ◽  
Jolanta Małyszko ◽  
Hanna Bachórzewska- Gajewska ◽  
Sławomir Dobrzycki

Abstract Introduction: Air pollution contributes to the premature death of approximately 428,000 citizens of Europe every year. The adverse effects of air pollution can be observed not only in respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems but also in renal function.Aim: Our goal was to investigate the hypothesis indicating that we can observe the long-term and also short-term impact of air pollution on kidney function.Methods: We reviewed medical notes of patients hospitalized at Medical University of Bialystok, Poland between 2007-2016. We used linear, log-linear, and logistic regression models to assess the association between renal function and NO2, SO2, and PMs. Results are reported as beta (β) coefficients and odds ratios (OR) for an increase in interquartile range (IQR) concentration with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: 3,554 patients were included into the final analysis. The median age was 66 (IQR 15) and men were in the majority (53.2%, N=1891). Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was diagnosed in 21.5% (N=764). The long-term increase in annual average concertation of PM2.5 (OR for IQR increase=1.07; 95% CI 1.01 – 1.15, P=0.037) and NO2 (OR for IQR increase=1.05;95% CI 1.01 – 1.10, P=0.047) resulted in an increased number of patients with CKD. In short-term observation the IQR increase in weekly PM2.5 concentration was associated with a 2% reduction in eGFR (OR=0.98, 95%CI 0.97 – 0.99, P=0.03)Conclusions: The effects of air pollution on renal function were observed. Long- and short–term exposure to elevated air pollution levels was associated with a decrease in eGFR. The main pollutant affecting the kidneys was PM2.5.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucie Adélaïde ◽  
Sylvia Medina ◽  
Vérène Wagner ◽  
Perrine de Crouy-Chanel ◽  
Elsa Real ◽  
...  

Lockdown measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 in France in spring 2020 sharply reduced activities and lowered air-pollution concentrations. This study sought to determine the short- and long-term impacts on mortality in metropolitan France resulting from the temporary decrease in the population's exposure to air pollution. The reduction in exposure to air pollution was estimated by calculating the difference between modeled exposure of the population during the strict lockdown and the gradual lifting, and the simulated exposure that would have been observed in the absence of lockdown. A quantitative health impact assessment was used to estimate both the short-term impact of PM10 and NO2 reductions, and the long-term impact of PM2.5 and NO2 reductions on mortality. Reduced activities during the lockdown lowered NO2 and PM concentrations, resulting in about 2,300 deaths postponed for PM2.5 and nearly 1,200 for NO2, mainly due to avoided long-term effects. This study shows that, even in an unprecedented context that is certainly neither realistic nor desirable to improve air quality in the long run, public interventions appear to have a significant impact on health through reductions in air-pollution levels. In a long-term perspective, the study also reminds us that the total burden of air pollution on health remains a significant risk factor in France. Efforts to reduce ambient air pollution must thus be pursued sustainably for all sources of air pollution with suitably adapted but ambitious policies. Finally, the lockdown restrictions had other consequences, both positive and negative, on the population's health. These consequences highlight the need to conduct more integrated assessments of health impacts that include the multisectoral consequences of interventions, particularly in terms of population compliance with mitigating restrictions, behavior and mental health and, more broadly, climate change.


2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ondřej Špulák ◽  
Jiří Souček

AbstractThe paper deals with the health status, production and structure of autochthonous beech stands in the eastern part of the Krkonoše Mts. (Czech Republic). The region was affected by increased air pollution load due to long-range SO2 transmission from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. In 1980, five research plots were established in long unmanaged beech stands at an optimum stage. Tree coordinates and initial biometrical measurements were made in 1980 and repeated in 2005. The defoliation of individual trees was monitored every year (ICP Forests principles). The actual stand development is compared with the model development worked out by the Sibyla growth simulator in variants with a model of natural mortality and with entering a real mortality of trees. Differences between the stand characteristics of actual and simulated development of forest stands suggest some production losses. The reason to the losses can be seen in the long-term impact of air pollution in the first decade of monitoring and its after-effects on soil quality and worsening health condition of stands. The anticipated acceleration in the onset of the phase of stand disintegration under the influence of air pollution load was not demonstrated.


2018 ◽  
Vol 126 (10) ◽  
pp. 107003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara D. Adar ◽  
Yeh-Hsin Chen ◽  
Jennifer C. D’Souza ◽  
Marie S. O’Neill ◽  
Adam A. Szpiro ◽  
...  

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