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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Foliar accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in native tree species from the Atlantic Forest (SE-Brazil)

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Author(s):
Dias, Ana Paula L. [1] ; Rinaldi, Mirian C. S. [1] ; Domingos, Marisa [1]
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] Inst Bot, Caixa Postal 68041, BR-04045972 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 1
Document type: Journal article
Source: Science of The Total Environment; v. 544, p. 175-184, FEB 15 2016.
Web of Science Citations: 13
Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic to living organisms. They can accumulate on foliar surfaces due to their affinity with apolar organic compounds, which enables the use of native plant species as sentinels of atmospheric PAH deposition in polluted ecosystems. The present study extends the knowledge about this subject in the tropical region by focusing on the PAH accumulation in the foliage of dominant tree species (Astronium graveolens, Croton floribundus, Piptadenia gonoacantha) in four remnants of Semi-deciduous Atlantic Forest surrounded by diversified sources of PAHs and located in the cities of Campinas, Paulinia, Holambra and Cosmopilis (central-eastern part of Sao Paulo State, SE-Brazil). Leaves of the tree species were collected in the forest remnants during the wet and dry seasons (2011 to 2013). All samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a fluorescence detector for identification of 14 PAHs. The native tree species showed distinct capacities to accumulate PAHs. All of them accumulated proportionally more light PAHs than heavy PAHs, mainly during the dry period. P. gonoacantha was the most effective accumulator species. Higher accumulations of most of the PAHs occurred during the dry periods. The predominance of moderately (1 <= EF < 5) to highly enriched (EF >= 5) leaf samples of P. gonoacantha with regard to BaA and PHE in all of the forest remnants indicated that vehicular sources were widely distributed in the entire region. The predominance of the moderate to high enrichment of ACE in leaf samples from the forest remnants located in Paulinia, Holambra and Cosmopolis indicated that they were also affected by emissions from petrochemical industries. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)