Preliminary vegetation-based evaluation of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) using pine species: Towards...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Ecology

Background:

• Pine needles are recognized as effective biomonitors for airborne semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs).
• However, variations in pollutant retention capacities among different pine species are not well understood.
• This knowledge gap limits the interchangeable use of various species in biomonitoring studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the SVOC uptake capacities across different pine species.
• To establish comparable SVOC retention levels between various pine species.
• To enhance data consistency and enable cross-study comparisons in pollution monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of four SVOC classes: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs).
• Sampling of pine needles from multiple species across 12 sites in Portugal, Spain, the UK, and Romania.
• Statistical analysis to explore interspecies pollutant correlations and relationships with environmental factors.

Main Results:

• SVOC levels generally reflected urban pollution fingerprints, irrespective of the pine species.
• Statistically significant correlations (p < 0.05) were observed for total SVOC concentrations and specific volatile compounds in commonly sampled species (e.g., P. pinaster, P. pinea, P. sylvestris).
• These correlations were found to be independent of land use, climate regimes, and vegetation variability.

Conclusions:

• Pine species exhibit comparable SVOC retention levels, supporting their interchangeable use in biomonitoring.
• The findings facilitate cross-national and cross-land use data comparison, improving pollution cycle understanding.
• Future research should focus on expanding spatial and temporal sampling campaigns for more comprehensive insights.