Particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon uptake in relation to leaf surface functional traits in Mediterranean evergreens: Potentials for air phytoremediation

Antonello Prigioniero; Daniela Zuzolo; Ülo Niinemets; Alessia Postiglione; Mariano Mercurio; Francesco Izzo; Marco Trifuoggi; Maria Toscanesi; Pierpaolo Scarano; Maria Tartaglia; Rosaria Sciarrillo; Carmine Guarino

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129029

Particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon uptake in relation to leaf surface functional traits in Mediterranean evergreens: Potentials for air phytoremediation

J Hazard Mater. 2022 Aug 5:435:129029. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129029. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, via de Sanctis snc, Benevento 82100, Italy.
² Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, via de Sanctis snc, Benevento 82100, Italy. Electronic address: dzuzolo@unisannio.it.
³ Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 1, Tartu 51006, Estonia.
⁴ Department of Earth Sciences, Environment and Resources, University of Naples Federico II, via Cintia, Naples 80126, Italy.
⁵ Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, via Cintia, Naples 80126, Italy.

PMID: 35525010
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129029

Abstract

We explored relationships between particulate matter (PM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) leaf concentrations, uptake rates and leaf surface functional traits in four Mediterranean evergreen trees (Chamaerops humilis, Citrus × aurantium, Magnolia grandiflora, and Quercus ilex) during a dry month. Pollutant leaf concentration at different dates and uptake rate were correlated. We quantified PM by gravimetric analysis, PAHs were extracted from intact and dewaxed leaves and analyzed by GC-MS, and cuticle thickness, number and surface of stomata (N_s and S_S) and trichomes (N_t and S_t) were determined by optical microscopy. Infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate the leaves surfaces composition and assess esterification index (E). Studied species were characterized by unique combinations of functional traits and pollutant uptake capacities. PM₁₀ uptake scaled positively with S_S, S_t and upper cuticle thickness (T_c,u) across species. PM_2.5 uptake scaled positively with T_c,u, and thicker cuticles were also associated with greater shares of uptake of hydrophobic PM fractions. Uptakes of different fractions of PAH were generally weakly related to different leaf functional traits, except for some correlations with E and S_S. We conclude that both plant surface morphological and chemical leaf traits influence PM and PAH retention, unveiling their potential role in air phytoremediation.

Keywords: Air phytoremediation; Air pollution; Particulate matter; Plant functional traits; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Biodegradation, Environmental
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Particulate Matter / analysis
Plant Leaves
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / analysis

Substances

Air Pollutants
Particulate Matter
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons