Assessment of metal immission in urban environments using elemental concentrations and zinc isotope signatures in leaves of Nerium oleander
File(s)Martín et al 2018_proof_Cristina djw.pdf (1.38 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Martín, A
Caldelas, C
Weiss, D
Aranjuelo, I
Navarro, E
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A thorough understanding of spatial and temporal emission and immission patterns of air pollutants in urban areas is challenged by the low number of air-quality monitoring stations available. Plants are promising low-cost biomonitoring tools. However, source identification of the trace metals incorporated in plant tissues (i.e., natural vs anthropogenic) and the identification of the best plant to use remain fundamental challenges. To this end, Nerium oleander L. collected in the city of Zaragoza (NE Spain) has been investigated as a biomonitoring tool for assessing the spatial immission patterns of airborne metals (Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, Ce, and Zn). N. oleander leaves were sampled at 118 locations across the city, including the city center, industrial hotspots, ring-roads, and outskirts. Metal concentrations were generally higher within a 4 km radius around the city center. Calculated enrichment factors relative to upper continental crust suggest an anthropogenic origin for Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Zinc isotopes showed significant variability that likely reflects different pollution sources. Plants closer to industrial hotspots showed heavier isotopic compositions (δ66ZnLyonup to +0.70‰), indicating significant contributions of fly ash particles, while those far away were isotopically light (up to -0.95‰), indicating significant contributions from exhaust emissions and flue gas. We suggest that this information is applied for improving the environmental and human risk assessment related to the exposure to air pollution in urban areas.
Date Issued
2018-01-10
Date Acceptance
2018-01-10
Citation
Environmental Science and Technology, 2018, 52 (4), pp.2071-2080
ISSN
0013-936X
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Start Page
2071
End Page
2080
Journal / Book Title
Environmental Science and Technology
Volume
52
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© 2018 American Chemical Society. This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Environmental Science and Technology, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b00617.
Sponsor
Commission of the European Communities
Commission of the European Communities
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29320848
Grant Number
PIEF-GA-2011-299473
295091
Subjects
MD Multidisciplinary
Environmental Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States