Pollution Characteristics of N-Alkanes and PAHs in Typical Road Tree Leaves in Chengdu City, China

Abstract

The pollution characteristics of n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the typical tree species (Chinese Glossy Privet tree, Camphors tree, Osmanthus tree) in Chengdu city were studied. The distribution and sources of n-alkanes and PAHs in leave samples were discussed. The results showed the carbon number of n-alkanes ranging from nC11 to nC34 of leaves samples in Chengdu City was detected out and the distributions of n-alkanes of selected plant leaves in different sampling sites showed obvious difference. The content of n-alkanes in the east site leave samples was the most abundant, the highest value was 5.2 μg/g while the least was at the north site (0.01μg/g). The content of PAHs in the north site leave samples was the most abundant with the highest value being 242.56 μg/kg while the least was at the central site with the lowest value of 0.11μg/kg. The content of n-alkanes and PAHs in Camphors tree leaves was higher than Osmanthus tree leaves suggesting Camphors tree could better purified the city air.