Can Abies alba Needles Be Used as Bio-passive Samplers to Assess Air Quality?

Abstract Bio-passive samplers have proved to be good alternate to assess air quality in regions where the use of active samplers is not technically feasible. Here, we tested the potential for Abies alba (silver fir) needles to be used as reliable bio-passive samplers. As these evergreen coniferous t...

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Main Authors: Agnieszka Stojanowska, Maciej Górka, Anita Urszula Lewandowska, Kinga Wiśniewska, Magdalena Modelska, David Widory
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2021-09-01
Series:Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210097
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author Agnieszka Stojanowska
Maciej Górka
Anita Urszula Lewandowska
Kinga Wiśniewska
Magdalena Modelska
David Widory
author_facet Agnieszka Stojanowska
Maciej Górka
Anita Urszula Lewandowska
Kinga Wiśniewska
Magdalena Modelska
David Widory
author_sort Agnieszka Stojanowska
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Bio-passive samplers have proved to be good alternate to assess air quality in regions where the use of active samplers is not technically feasible. Here, we tested the potential for Abies alba (silver fir) needles to be used as reliable bio-passive samplers. As these evergreen coniferous trees do not lose their needles in winter these are representative of a full year period. Needle samples were collected in 2013 from 20 different locations within the Holy Cross National Park (Świetokrzyski Park Narodowy, Holy Cross Voivodship, Poland). Both needles and the aerosols deposited on their surfaces were analyzed for their δ13C. Additionally, total carbon (TC), elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) were determined only in surface-impacted aerosols using thermo-optical method. The overall objective of our study was to evaluate the possibility to distinguish bio-organic aerosols (crushed needles) from anthropogenically derived aerosols. The highest aerosol mass concentration (4.6 ± 2.4 mg g−1) was observed in samples with the longest exposure time, while the shortest exposure times yielded the lowest ones (1.7 ± 0.7 mg g−1). Aerosols that were enriched in 13C, indicating the impact of human activities, were located close to inhabited areas, at highly elevated points and in places situated outside the park. Our results also prove that one-year-old needles are the most reliable isotope bioindicators. We ultimately recommend that Abies alba needles can be used in future air quality monitoring programs, especially since this method is low cost and easy to implement.
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spelling doaj-art-df916f88f4b44babada3692884b10ceb2025-02-09T12:20:27ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092021-09-01211112310.4209/aaqr.210097Can Abies alba Needles Be Used as Bio-passive Samplers to Assess Air Quality?Agnieszka Stojanowska0Maciej Górka1Anita Urszula Lewandowska2Kinga Wiśniewska3Magdalena Modelska4David Widory5Department of Environmental Protection, Wroclaw University of Science and TechnologyInstitute of Geological Sciences, University of WroclawDivision of Marine Chemistry and Environmental Protection, Institute of Oceanography, University of GdanskDivision of Marine Chemistry and Environmental Protection, Institute of Oceanography, University of GdanskInstitute of Geological Sciences, University of WroclawGEOTOP/Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)Abstract Bio-passive samplers have proved to be good alternate to assess air quality in regions where the use of active samplers is not technically feasible. Here, we tested the potential for Abies alba (silver fir) needles to be used as reliable bio-passive samplers. As these evergreen coniferous trees do not lose their needles in winter these are representative of a full year period. Needle samples were collected in 2013 from 20 different locations within the Holy Cross National Park (Świetokrzyski Park Narodowy, Holy Cross Voivodship, Poland). Both needles and the aerosols deposited on their surfaces were analyzed for their δ13C. Additionally, total carbon (TC), elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) were determined only in surface-impacted aerosols using thermo-optical method. The overall objective of our study was to evaluate the possibility to distinguish bio-organic aerosols (crushed needles) from anthropogenically derived aerosols. The highest aerosol mass concentration (4.6 ± 2.4 mg g−1) was observed in samples with the longest exposure time, while the shortest exposure times yielded the lowest ones (1.7 ± 0.7 mg g−1). Aerosols that were enriched in 13C, indicating the impact of human activities, were located close to inhabited areas, at highly elevated points and in places situated outside the park. Our results also prove that one-year-old needles are the most reliable isotope bioindicators. We ultimately recommend that Abies alba needles can be used in future air quality monitoring programs, especially since this method is low cost and easy to implement.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210097BioindicatorsAbies alba needlesδ13CAerosols
spellingShingle Agnieszka Stojanowska
Maciej Górka
Anita Urszula Lewandowska
Kinga Wiśniewska
Magdalena Modelska
David Widory
Can Abies alba Needles Be Used as Bio-passive Samplers to Assess Air Quality?
Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Bioindicators
Abies alba needles
δ13C
Aerosols
title Can Abies alba Needles Be Used as Bio-passive Samplers to Assess Air Quality?
title_full Can Abies alba Needles Be Used as Bio-passive Samplers to Assess Air Quality?
title_fullStr Can Abies alba Needles Be Used as Bio-passive Samplers to Assess Air Quality?
title_full_unstemmed Can Abies alba Needles Be Used as Bio-passive Samplers to Assess Air Quality?
title_short Can Abies alba Needles Be Used as Bio-passive Samplers to Assess Air Quality?
title_sort can abies alba needles be used as bio passive samplers to assess air quality
topic Bioindicators
Abies alba needles
δ13C
Aerosols
url https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.210097
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