Comprehensive assessment of pine needles as bioindicators of PAHs using multivariate analysis. The importance of temporal trends

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Nuno Ratola (Author) FEUP; Jose Manuel Amigo (Author) Other; Arminda Alves (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Chemosphere

Vol. 81 No. 11

Pages: 1517-1525

ISSN: 0045-6535

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 35 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 44 Citations

COMPENDEX

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-0CH

DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.08.031

Abstract (EN): The importance of the annual and seasonal trends associated to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) biomonitoring by pine needles are studied with a comprehensive use of univariate and multivariate analysis tools For this purpose, four pine needle sampling campaigns (winter, spring, summer and autumn 2007) were carried out in 29 sites from Portugal. Needles from Pinus master Air, and Anus pinea L. trees were collected from all year-classes available in each tree, corresponding to the different shoots of needles coming out every spring and the results of both species were treated separately Annual trends of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination indicate a general Increase from the least to the most exposed year-classes, for all seasons. The mean values for the sum of 16 PAHs ranged from 71 +/- 33 ng g(-1) (dry weight - dw) for new year (2007) needles in the summer to 514 +/- 317 ng g(-1) (dw) for 2-year needles (2005) in the spring for P. pinea, and between 90 +/- 50 ng g(-1) (dw) for new year (2007) needles in the summer and 1212 +/- 436 ng g(-1) (dw) for 3-year needles (2004) in summer for P master. The seasonal evolution shows the highest concentrations in the winter, then declining to the lowest levels in the summer and rising again from summer to autumn. Principal component analysis confirmed differences between seasons and needle year-classes, more visible for P pinea samples The cooler seasons have more affinity towards the lighter more abundant PAHs, as do the older needles. Differences between both pine species are also evident

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9