Time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry studies of the distribution of metals between the soil, rhizosphere and roots of Populus tremuloides Minchx growing in forest soil.

Time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy has been used to study the metal distribution at the soil/root interface of tree roots extracted from smelter-impacted soils. The results, augmented by scanning electron microscopy, show that the technique is capable of resolving metal distributions at the cellular level. In addition, the distribution of metals between the root plaque and the root interior may be useful in interpreting local metal transport mechanisms.