Key, KübraKulaç, Şemsettin2023-07-262023-07-2620221873-93181873-9326https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-022-01206-yhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12684/13528Pollution in the atmosphere, a major problem worldwide, has significantly increased in the last century. Heavy metals have an important component in air pollution. Therefore, tracking the heavy metal concentration changes in the air is critical because they tend to accumulate in living things, and some might be carcinogenic, toxic, and lethal even at a small amount. The most preferred method for determining the heavy metal concentration changes in the atmosphere from past to present is the usage of annual growth rings of plants as a biomonitor. In the current research, annual rings of Corylus colurna tree were used to determine the change of lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and zinc (Zn) during the last 180 years. Concentrations of heavy metals in the inner bark and bark were compared with wood and examined the directional changes. As a result, there was a statistically significant (p < 0.001) difference only between wood and bark in the north direction for all three elements, and the concentrations found in barks were higher than in the woods. The highest values in the annual rings were generally obtained in the west and south directions for many periods. Moreover, there were remarkable differences between the directions in the same period. These differences can be explained as the effects of nearby motorways and iron and steel plants. The results suggest that Corylus colurna is suitable for monitoring Pb, Cr, and Zn concentrations and that these heavy metals transfer between organs and between cells was minimal level.en10.1007/s11869-022-01206-yinfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessAnnual Ring; Chromium; Corylus Colurna; Heavy Metal; Lead; ZincTree-Rings; Traffic Density; Accumulation; Elements; Plants; China; Area; Soil; Cd; CuArticle159162316332-s2.0-85130130424WOS:000796302000001Q2Q2