The uptake and toxicity of mercury and lead to spruce (picea abifs karst. seedlings

Inhibition of root elongation rate was used to estimate the toxicity of methyl-Hg, Hg and Pb to spruce seedlings in nutrient solution. Methyl-Hg was found to be considerably more toxic than HgCl₂, this was found to be due to its intrinsic toxicity and not a greater uptake into the roots. The toxicity of Pb was dependent upon the composition of the nutrient solution, a greater inhibition of root elongation was found in a nutrient poor artificial soil solution than in a full nutrient solution. The implications of these studies to spruce decline are discussed.