Accumulation of organochlorines in pine needles
- Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala (Sweden). Dept. of Environmental Assessment
- Stockholm Univ. (Sweden)
The hydrophobic surface of higher plants will sorb hydrophobic pollutants from the surrounding air. This has been used to map the distribution of airborne organochlorines in ``background`` regions of Western Europe and other parts of the world. Due to this ability to sorb hydrophobic species from the atmosphere, plants may also affect the long-range atmospheric transport and global circulation of these compounds. In an ongoing study, the authors are investigating the dynamics in the plant/air system, by continuously sampling pine needles and air at a location close to Stockholm University. All three year-classes of needles have been sampled. Both the epicuticular wax and the internal tissues have been analyses for the presence of some organochlorines. Concentration data and time trends of selected organochlorines will be presented. In general, there is a very clear accumulation of the hydrophobic pollutants in the needles. The accumulation seems to be driven mainly by the concentration of the compounds in the air with temperature differences being less important. Thus, the accumulation rate during the summer months, when the air concentrations are high, is higher during the colder months. The only period of the year when desorption from the needles was observed, was during the early spring. This coincides with the end of a long period of low air concentrations. The fluctuation in accumulation rate is less prominent in the internal tissues than in the wax.
- OSTI ID:
- 392345
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9647%%199
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) world conference, Vancouver (Canada), 5-9 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Second SETAC world congress (16. annual meeting): Abstract book. Global environmental protection: Science, politics, and common sense; PB: 378 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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