Distribution and sources of PAHs using three pine species along the Ebro River

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

Nuno Ratola (Author) FEUP; Arminda Alves (Author) FEUP; Sílvia Lacorte (Author) Other; Damià Barceló (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

Vol. 184 No. 2

Pages: 985-999

ISSN: 0167-6369

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 28 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 33 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

Associated Projects

POPs - Agulhas de Pinheiro como Biomonitores de Poluentes Orgânicos Persistentes Atmosféricos

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-HCN

DOI: 10.1007/s10661-011-2014-x

Abstract (EN): Needles of three pine species (Pinus halepensis, Pinus pinea and Pinus nigra) were analysed to assess the occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 34 sites located throughout the Ebro River, in Northeast Spain. Overall, the concentration varied between 55 and 808 ng g (-aEuro parts per thousand 1) (dry weight). The three- and four-ring PAHs were the most representative, with phenanthrene having 43% of the total PAH load and naphthalene showing a high incidence in rural areas. Despite matrix apparent similarities, P. halepensis needles revealed higher entrapment levels than P. nigra and P. pinea, the latter showing the lowest levels. The assessment of possible sources using PAH ratios (phenanthrene/anthracene and fluoranthene/pyrene) did not reveal a clear tendency regarding the distinction of petrogenic and pyrogenic sources in general, reflecting heterogeneous sources of PAHs in the Ebro area.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 15