XVI International Botanical Congess

Nowadays economical and technological changes at the main factories (oil refinery, nitrogen fertilizer plant and cement factory) of Lithuania require proper evaluation of industrial impact on conifer stands. Sites with different pollutant load and distance from pollution sources were selected. Setting 4 years monitoring (1994-1997) objective was to estimate pollutant effects on aboveground part of Pinus sylvestris according to various ecophysiological tests. Comparison of needle surface structure by SEM, wax amount and hydrophobic features together with elemental composition revealed significant differences between the sites. Data obtained show possibility of low level of pollutants to induce detectable damages during one year existence of needles. Climate fluctuation can influence industrial effects on pine needles.