Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed at different altitudes of Taurus Mountains in semipermeable membrane devices (SPMD) and in half-, one-and-a-half-, and two-and-a-half-year-old pine needles. SPMDs were deployed for three different exposure periods: March to September (Summer), September to March (Winter), and March to March (whole year) at eight sites where needle samples were collected. The values of PAHs in needles were between 4.4 to 6066pg g/fw in half-year-old, 7.2 to 111,115pgg/fw in 1.5-year-old, and 9.7 to 85,335pgg/fw in 2.5-year-old needles. Mass of PAHs collected by SPMDs varied from <MDL to 8060ng/SPMD in winter, from 0.98 to 585ng/SPMD in summer, and <MDL to 9360ng/SPMD in whole year deployment, respectively. PAH profiles were dependent on the seasonal differences and locations. Roughly, clear decreasing trends with altitude were observed both with SPMD and needles for many individual and groups of PAHs except for the SPMD-summer short-time data. A cross-plot of Fluo/(Fluo+Pyr) vs Ant/(Ant+Phe) diagnostic ratios indicated grass/wood burning (possibly due to forest fires) in summer and petrogenic combustion in winter. Results of the study showed that SPMD and conifer needles are effective passive samplers to measure PAHs in the environment.
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