TY - JOUR

T1 - PAHs associated with the leaves of three deciduous tree species. I - concentrations and profiles.

AU - Howsam, Mike

AU - Jones, Kevin C.

AU - Ineson, Philip

PY - 2000/6

Y1 - 2000/6

N2 - Results for the concentrations of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ΣPAH) and the PAH profile in leaves from three deciduous tree species from the same woodland are presented, and discussed with reference to environmental and leaf-related variables. There were significant differences between oak, ash and hazel leaves in their ΣPAH concentrations (sum of 23 PAHs), and in the relative contribution of individual PAHs to the sum. Leaves exhibiting pubescence (hairiness) were found to have significantly higher ΣPAH concentrations than hairless leaves, regardless of their position in the vegetation strata of the wood. Hazel leaves from the understorey had a PAH profile consisting of a greater proportion of the 4-, 5- and 6-ring PAHs than oak or ash from the canopy. This was concluded to be the result of the filtering effect of the main canopy on the air passing over and through it, with subsequent transfer of particles and attendant PAHs to the understorey below. The proportion of ΣPAH contributed by the 6-ring PAH in hazel leaves was negatively correlated with distance from the southern edge of the canopy. It is proposed that the predominantly windward edges of the woodland, where atmospheric turbulence is likely to be greatest, favoured the deposition of particle-bound PAHs to leaves.

AB - Results for the concentrations of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ΣPAH) and the PAH profile in leaves from three deciduous tree species from the same woodland are presented, and discussed with reference to environmental and leaf-related variables. There were significant differences between oak, ash and hazel leaves in their ΣPAH concentrations (sum of 23 PAHs), and in the relative contribution of individual PAHs to the sum. Leaves exhibiting pubescence (hairiness) were found to have significantly higher ΣPAH concentrations than hairless leaves, regardless of their position in the vegetation strata of the wood. Hazel leaves from the understorey had a PAH profile consisting of a greater proportion of the 4-, 5- and 6-ring PAHs than oak or ash from the canopy. This was concluded to be the result of the filtering effect of the main canopy on the air passing over and through it, with subsequent transfer of particles and attendant PAHs to the understorey below. The proportion of ΣPAH contributed by the 6-ring PAH in hazel leaves was negatively correlated with distance from the southern edge of the canopy. It is proposed that the predominantly windward edges of the woodland, where atmospheric turbulence is likely to be greatest, favoured the deposition of particle-bound PAHs to leaves.

KW - PAHs

KW - Deposition

KW - Tree

KW - Deciduous

KW - Leaves

KW - Woodland

U2 - 10.1016/S0269-7491(99)00195-5

DO - 10.1016/S0269-7491(99)00195-5

M3 - Journal article

VL - 108

SP - 413

EP - 424

JO - Environmental Pollution

JF - Environmental Pollution

SN - 0269-7491

IS - 34

ER -