The use of the barbell cluster ANOVA design for the assessment of environmental pollution: a case study, Wigierski National Park, NE Poland Zdzis1aw M. Migaszewski a, * , Agnieszka Ga1uszka a , Piotr Pas1awski b a Pedagogical University, Institute of Chemistry, Geochemistry and the Environment Div., ul. Chxcin ´ska 5, 25-020 Kielce, Poland b Central Chemical Laboratory of the Polish Geological Institute, ul. Rakowiecka 4, 00-975 Warszawa, Poland Received 24 March 2004; accepted 15 June 2004 The barbell cluster ANOVA design allowed the number of samples collected to be reduced to a minimum. Abstract This report presents an assessment of chemical variability in natural ecosystems of Wigierski National Park (NE Poland) derived from the calculation of geochemical baselines using a barbell cluster ANOVA design. This method enabled us to obtain statistically valid information with a minimum number of samples collected. Results of summary statistics are presented for elemental concentrations in the soil horizons-O (Ol C Ofh), -A and -B, 1- and 2-year old Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) needles, pine bark and Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. (lichen) thalli, as well as pH and TOC. The scope of this study also encompassed S and C stable isotope determinations and SEM examinations on Scots pine needles. The variability for S and trace metals in soils and plant bioindicators is primarily governed by parent material lithology and to a lesser extent by anthropogenic factors. This fact enabled us to study concentrations that are close to regional background levels. Ó 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Trace elements; S and C stable isotopes; Barbell sampling plan; ANOVA design; Soils; Plant bioindicators; Wigierski National Park; Poland 1. Introduction Elemental, isotopic and mineralogical signatures (‘‘fingerprints’’) are commonly used in environmental studies providing information on the distribution and pathways of pollutants as well as geochemical inter- actions in-between abiotic and biotic systems (e.g. Krouse, 1977; Case and Krouse, 1980; Manecki, 1984; Rosman et al., 1993; Gregurek et al., 1998; Reimann et al., 1998). The relation between natural- and anthropogenically-altered concentrations of chemical species in the environment involves many implications in the geosciences, environmental and biological scien- ces, toxicology and other related disciplines. To better understand the potential dangers of hazardous sub- stances in the environment, we must become more familiar with their spatial and temporal distribution and with their behavior under different physico-chemical and biotic conditions. This report presents the results of S and trace metal determinations on soils [horizons-O (Ol C Ofh), -A and -E] and vegetation (1- and 2-year old Pinus sylvestris needles, pine bark and Hypogymnia physodes thalli) as well as pH and TOC in some of these media from Wigierski National Park (Fig. 1). The scope of this study also encompassed S and C stable isotope determinations * Corresponding author. E-mail address: zmig@pu.kielce.pl (Z.M. Migaszewski). 0269-7491/$ - see front matter Ó 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2004.06.007 Environmental Pollution 133 (2005) 213–223 www.elsevier.com/locate/envpol