Compositional fractionation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mosses (Hypnum plumaeformae WILS.) from the northern slope of Nanling Mountains, South China

Xiang Liu, Gan Zhang, Kevin C. Jones, Xiangdong Li, Xianzhi Peng, Shihua Qi

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

105 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

High mountains may serve both as condenser for vapor phase persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and as barrier/sink for particulate associated less volatile POPs. The fractionation of POPs along altitudinal profiles is of interest in understanding the role of high mountains in the atmospheric transport of POPs. In the present study, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a selected moss species, Hypnum plumaeformae WILS, from two altitudinal profiles on the northern slope of Nanling mountains in Southern China were analyzed and compared with those in air samples. The total PAH concentration in the mosses was 310-1340 ng g-1dry weight, with phenanthrene being the most abundant. The distribution patterns of PAHs in the moss samples matched well with those in bulk atmosphere deposition in the adjacent source areas. The PAH distribution pattern in the mosses was a composite of both particle-associated and vapor phase PAHs, with heavy PAHs are susceptible to uptake/retention by mosses than light PAHs. A plot of log (Cmoss/ Cair) against log Koagave a good linear relationship in the log Kaorange of 6.7-10.2. It is suggested that the widely spread moss, H. plumaeformae WILS, can be used as an effective tool in the biomonitoring of atmospheric PAHs pollution in East Asia. The concentrations of most PAHs in the mosses generally declined with increasing altitude. In addition, there was a shift in compound pattern with an increase in the proportion of light PAHs (2-3 rings), a decrease in heavy PAHs (5-6 rings) and a relatively stable content of 4-ring PAHs. A combination of particulate scavenging and cold condensation are proposed as the major mechanisms for the compositional fractionation of PAHs along the altitudinal profile.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5490-5499
Number of pages10
JournalAtmospheric Environment
Volume39
Issue number30
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2005

Keywords

  • Atmospheric deposition
  • Fractionation
  • High mountains
  • Long-range transport
  • Monitoring
  • Moss
  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
  • Southern China

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science
  • Atmospheric Science

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