Retrospective analysis of heavy metal contamination in Rhode Island based on old and new herbarium specimens.
Retrospective analysis of heavy metal contamination in Rhode Island based on old and new herbarium specimens.
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DOI：
10.3732/apps.1600108
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发表时间：
2017-01
影响因子：
3.6
通讯作者：
Whitfeld TJ
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Rudin SM;Murray DW;Whitfeld TJ
植物标本馆的标本可以提供过去环境条件的记录，包括重金属污染。为了探索这一潜力，我们比较了铜，铅，锌的浓度在历史和新的收藏品从四个网站在罗得岛，美国。我们将历史标本（1846年至1916年）与2015年在罗得岛普罗维登斯的三个前工业遗址和布洛克岛的一个非工业遗址收集的同类标本进行了比较。叶材料制备UltraWAVE SRC微波消解，重金属浓度测定电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法。历史和新标本中的重金属浓度可测量所有测试元素，铜和锌的水平在历史和2015年的收藏中相当。相比之下，随着时间的推移，铅的浓度在所有地点都有所下降。重金属浓度的显着变化，观察类群之间，反映其不同的元素积累的潜力。植物标本馆的标本显然可以用来评估过去的污染水平和评估当地的环境变化。通过仔细的采样工作，这些标本可以成为环境科学研究的宝贵组成部分。以这种方式扩大植物标本馆收藏的可能应用，增加了它们在一个以收藏为基础的研究资金减少的时代的相关性。
Herbarium specimens may provide a record of past environmental conditions, including heavy metal pollution. To explore this potential, we compared concentrations of copper, lead, and zinc in historical and new collections from four sites in Rhode Island, USA. We compared historical specimens (1846 to 1916) to congener specimens collected in 2015 at three former industrial sites in Providence, Rhode Island, and one nonindustrial site on Block Island. Leaf material was prepared by UltraWAVE SRC Microwave Digestion, and heavy metal concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy. Heavy metal concentrations in the historical and new specimens were measurable for all elements tested, and levels of copper and zinc were comparable in the historical and 2015 collections. By contrast, the concentration of lead declined at all sites over time. Significant variability in heavy metal concentration was observed between taxa, reflecting their varied potential for elemental accumulation. It seems clear that herbarium specimens can be used to evaluate past levels of pollution and assess local environmental changes. With careful sampling effort, these specimens can be a valuable part of environmental science research. Broadening the possible applications for herbarium collections in this way increases their relevance in an era of reduced funding for collections-based research.