An analytical multi-residue approach for the determination of semi-volatile organic pollutants in pine needles

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

José Avelino Silva (Author) FEUP; Nuno Ratola (Author) FEUP; Sara Ramos (Author) FEUP; Vera Homem (Author) FEUP; Lúcia Santos (Author) FEUP; Arminda Alves (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Analytica Chimica Acta

Vol. 858

Pages: 24-31

ISSN: 0003-2670

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 17 Citations

Scopus - 21 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Environmental engineering

CORDIS: Physical sciences > Chemistry > Instrumental analysis ; Physical sciences > Chemistry > Analytical chemistry ; Natural sciences > Environmental science > Ecology > Environmental risks ; Natural sciences > Environmental science > Ecology > Bioclimatology

Associated Projects

SAFEPINE - SAFEPINE - Avaliação da contaminação de pinheiros por poluentes emergentes

LEPAE/CEFT - RL2 - (Bio) Chemical Engineering: Multi-Scale Approaches for Sustainable Environment and Health

UI0511 - PROJECTO ESTRATÉGICO - UI 511 - 2013-2014

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00A-68J

DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2014.12.042

Abstract (EN): Vegetation (and pine needles in particular) has been widely used as an alternative to other conventional sampling devices to assess the atmospheric presence of semi-volatile organic contaminants (SVOCs). While most analytical procedures developed focus only on one or two chemical classes, this this work intends to establish a multi-component protocol to quantify brominated flame-retardants (BFRs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and one class of contaminant of emerging concern, the synthetic musks fragrances (SMCs). Pine needles extracts were obtained by ultrasonic solvents extraction (USE), and different cleanup approaches using solid-phase extraction (SPE) employing combinations of sorbents and solvents as well as gel permeation chromatography (GPC) were tested. SPE with alumina followed by GCP yielded the best results, with average recoveries over 80%. The application of the method under field conditions was proven by the analysis of naturally contaminated samples from 3 sites of different potential exposure (remote, rural and urban). The total detected concentrations ranged from 0.45 to 0.87 ng g (1) dry weight (dw) for BFRs, 0.35 to 1.01 ng g (1) (dw) for PCBs, 0.36 to 12.2 ng g (1) (dw) for HCB, 245.7 to 967.8 ng g (1) (dw) for PAHs and 20.7 to 277.5 ng g (1) (dw) for SMCs. This methodology is a viable approach for the simultaneous analysis of five different classes of atmospheric pollutants employing less analytical efforts. Moreover, to the author's best knowledge, this is also the first time vegetation is employed in the detection of SMCs.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8