Phytomonitoring of Atmospheric Pollution in the Baikal Region
Phytomonitoring of atmospheric pollution was performed using Scotch pine as a highly sensitive bioindicator. Pine needle samples were collected in reference sites along the 320 km Sayansk-Irkutsk-Listvyanka transect passing through the major industrial centers of Baikal region and stretching to the shores of Lake Baikal. The concentrations of inorganic pollutants such as sulfur, fluorides, heavy metals etc. in needles were determined. The highest level of atmospheric pollution was detected at the territories of the Angarskiy, Irkutskiy, Usolskiy, Shelekhovskiy industrial centers, lower pollution is observed within the Sayan and Cheremkhovo industrial centers. The data show that the majority of pollutants reach the Baikal shore.