RT Journal Article
T1 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) levels in PM10 and bulk deposition using Mosspheres: a pilot study in an urban environment
A1 Pacín Salvador, María do Carme
A1 Martínez Abaigar, Javier
A1 Núñez Olivera, Encarnación
A1 Aboal Viñas, Jesús
A1 Nicola, Flavia de
A1 Fernández Escribano, José Ángel
K1 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
K1 Passive air sampler
K1 Air pollution
K1 Moss
K1 Biomonitoring
K1 Mapping
AB Study air polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) capturing the spatial variability of their concentrations is not economically feasible with conventional methods. In the present work we tested, for the first time and under real conditions, the suitability for intensive monitoring and mapping these contaminants of innovative, cost-effective passive air samplers known as “Mosspheres”. The Mosspheres, filled with a devitalised Sphagnum palustre L. moss clone, were placed in a 575 m. grid in a medium-sized European city for three months. Concentrations in the moss tissues of 15 priority PAHs, including benzo(a)pyrene, were determined and converted into PM10 and bulk deposition with the equations proposed in a recent study. Low concentrations of PAHs were detected, with only a few enriched points never exceeding the legal thresholds, near industrial areas and busy roads. Despite these low PAH concentrations, Mosspheres were able to detect spatial structure for several PAHs and high-resolution pollution maps were constructed for these compounds. The results prove the high sensitivity and suitability of Mosspheres for mapping PAH levels and for quantitative (i.e. PAHs with 4 or more rings) and qualitative (3-ring PAHs) monitoring. Thus, this study supports their widespread application and its potential inclusion in European Directives on air quality control
PB Elsevier
SN 0013-9351
YR 2023
FD 2023
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/30321
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/30321
LA eng
NO Environmental Research 223 (2023) 115406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.115406
NO This work was financially supported by Caixabank, together with MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and “ERDF A way of making Europe” (grant PGC2018-093824-B-C42). The Government of La Rioja (Dirección General de Calidad Ambiental) and the Council of Logroño provided administrative support for the study and the authorization to locate the sampling devices in the city.
DS Minerva
RD 24 abr 2026