Biomonitoring of airborne fluoride and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in industrial areas of Córdoba, Argentina, using standardized grass cultures

Publication Type

Journal contribution (peer reviewed)

Authors

Rodriguez,J.H., Wanaz, E.D., Franzaring, J., Klumpp, A., Fangmeier, A., Pignata, M.L.

Year of publication

2015

Published in

Atmospheric Pollution Research

Band/Volume

6/

DOI

10.5094/APR.2015.049

Page (from - to)

444-453

A biomonitoring programme was performed employing VDI standardised grass
cultures. Plants of Lolium multiflorum were exposed at 4 industrial sites over threemonth
periods in two seasons (dry and rainy) and the biomass produced was used for
subsequent F-, PAHs (phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene,
chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene,
dibenzo[a,h]anthracene and benzo[g,h,i]perylene) and physiological analyses (total
chlorophyll, malondialdehyde, water and sulfur content). The total content of PAHs
revealed seasonal variations, whit the highest values corresponding to the dry season,
although this species showed a high retention capacity of PAHs during rainy. In
addition, sampling sites with high vehicular traffic and metal-mechanical industries
were associated with the highest content of PAHs. Furthermore, physiological
degradation associated with anthropic activities in the sampling sites was observed,
with the fluoride content in the biomonitor being associated with the production and use
of cement, which was higher in the dry season.