Estimation of SO sub(2) effect thresholds for heathland species

• Published in: Functional ecology Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 291 - 296
• Main Authors: Dueck, T A, van der Eerden, LJ, Berdowski, JJM
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-01-1992
• ISSN: 0269-8463

An ecotoxicological risk analysis was applied to data on the effects of SO sub(2) on a heathland ecosystem to study the merits of this analysis for use in setting safety standards for air pollution. Fourteen species native to heathland vegetation were exposed to a range of SO sub(2) concentrations up to 520 mu g m super(-3) in controlled fumigation chambers. The effect of fumigation on visual injury and several growth parameters was determined after 6 weeks. Species dominating heathlands in The Netherlands were hardly affected by the fumigations, while the bryophytes and species from the Violion caninae alliance were much more sensitive to SO sub(2). The threat of elevated SO sub(2) concentrations to heathland vegetation from injury was estimated by incorporating SO sub(2) effect threshold levels for these species into an ecotoxicological risk analysis.