Accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by lichen transplants: Comparison with gas-phase passive air samplers

S Loppi; K Pozo; V H Estellano; S Corsolini; G Sardella; L Paoli

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.03.066

Accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by lichen transplants: Comparison with gas-phase passive air samplers

Chemosphere. 2015 Sep:134:39-43. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.03.066. Epub 2015 Apr 22.

Authors

S Loppi¹, K Pozo², V H Estellano², S Corsolini², G Sardella³, L Paoli²

Affiliations

¹ University of Siena, Italy. Electronic address: stefano.loppi@unisi.it.
² University of Siena, Italy.
³ ARPA Molise, Italy.

PMID: 25911045
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.03.066

Abstract

This study compared the accumulation of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in samples of the lichen Evernia prunastri exposed for 3 months in and around an industrial area of S Italy with that in co-located passive gas-phase air samplers. The results showed a strong linear correlations (R=0.96, P<0.05) between total PAHs in lichens and in passive samplers, clearly indicating that lichen transplants may provide direct quantitative information on the atmospheric load by total PAHs, allowing translation of lichen values into atmospheric concentrations. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study reporting such a correlation with gas-phase passive air samplers.

Keywords: Air pollution; Biomonitoring; Italy; PAHs; PUF disk.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants / analysis*
Ascomycota
Atmosphere
Environmental Monitoring / instrumentation*
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Gases
Industry
Italy
Lichens / chemistry*
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / analysis*

Substances

Air Pollutants
Gases
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons