DENDROCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF BOXELDER AND STAGHORN SUMAC AS A TOOL IN FORENSIC HYDROGEOLOGY

Dendrochemical analysis is a potential tool for constructing a contamination history at a site especially when contaminated with heavy metal. Previous research using this technique has focused on old growth species (maple or oak) than in trees typically found in disturbed, contaminated sites such as boxelder (Acer negundo L.) and staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina L.). In this research, metal processing at a chrome-plating factory in northern Illinois is associated with high levels of metals in soil, vegetation, and groundwater of the surrounding area. This study examined the levels of Cr and Ni in both boxelder and sumac and a control site (uncontaminated), to examine the potential use of these species in terms of both dendroanalysis and their use in contaminant site history construction from a site that the history is already known. Inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure trace metal concentrations of tree cores and soil samples with results showing a correlation between soil and tree Cr and Ni. Concentrations of Cr and Ni were found to be 10-fold and 100-fold higher, respectively, at the former plating factory than at the control site. This preliminary research will provide baseline data for these two species for future dendrochemical analysis.