Distribution Trends of Cadmium and Lead in Timberline Coniferous Forests in the Eastern Tibetan Plateau

The concentrations of Pb and Cd in the needles twigs fir spruce collected from 26 sites Eastern Tibetan Plateau were measured analyzed this study. mean 0.034 1.291 mg/kg, respectively, 0.101 2.511 twigs. These increased significantly with needle twig age peaked at 5 years. enriched compared needles. spatial distributions determined using inverse-distance-weighted interpolation method on basis concentration elements each site. highest found Yunnan Province Gongga Mountain. They showed a tendency to decline northern direction, as well Mountain western area. Principal component analysis that originated anthropogenic activities mining climatic factors may be main sources Combining HYSPLIT (The Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) model PCA, results implied exterior Southeast Asia eastern developed cities China can infiltrate ecosystem through long-range transportation accumulate timberline forests, atmospheric deposition Plateau. This plateau suffers severe pollution but slight contamination.