Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions
www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net
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9
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2009
10.5194/acpd-9-5809-2009
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/5809/2009/
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/5809/2009/acpd-9-5809-2009.html
http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/9/5809/2009/acpd-9-5809-2009.pdf
5809
5852
2009-03-04
Distribution and sources of bioaccumulative air pollutants at Mezquital Valley, Mexico, as reflected by the atmospheric plant <i>Tillandsia recurvata</i> L.
A. Zambrano García
azambran@imp.mx
C. Medina Coyotzin
A. Rojas Amaro
D. López Veneroni
L. Chang Martínez
G. Sosa Iglesias
Dirección Ejecutiva de Investigación y Posgrado, Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, México D.F., Mexico
Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de los Hidalgo, Morelia, Mexico
Mezquital Valley (MV), a Mexican wastewater-based agricultural and
industrial region, is a ''hot spot'' of regulated air pollutants
emissions, but the concurrent unregulated ones, like hazardous metals
and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), remain
undocumented. A biomonitoring survey with the epiphytic
<i>Tillandsia recurvata</i> was conducted there to detect spatial
patterns and potential sources of 20 airborne elements and 15 PAH. The
natural δ<sup>13</sup>C and δ<sup>15</sup>N ratios of this plant helped
in source identification. The regional mean concentrations of most
elements was two (Cr) to over 40 times (Ni, Pb, V) higher than
reported for <i>Tillandsia</i> in other countries. Eleven elements,
pyrene and chrysene had 18–214% higher mean concentration at the
industrial south than at the agricultural north of MV. The total
quantified PAH (mean, 572 ng g<sup>−1</sup>; range, 142.6–2568) were
composed by medium (65%, phenanthrene to chrysene), low (28%,
naphthalene to fluorene) and high molecular weight compounds (7%,
Benzo(<i>b</i>)fluoranthene to indeno(1,2,3-<i>cd</i>)pyrene). The
δ<sup>13</sup>C (mean, −14.6‰; range, −5.7 to
−13.7‰) was lower (<−15‰) near the major
petroleum combustion sources. The δ<sup>15</sup>N (mean,
−3.0‰; range, −9.9 to 3.3‰) varied from positive
at agriculture/industrial areas to negative at rural sites. Factor
analysis provided a five-factor solution for 74% of the data
variance: (1) crustal rocks, 39.5% (Al, Ba, Cu, Fe, Sr, Ti); (2)
soils, 11.3%, contrasting contributions from natural (Mg, Mn, Zn)
and saline agriculture soils (Na); (3) cement production and fossil
fuel combustion, 9.8% (Ca, Ni, V, chrysene, pyrene); (4) probable
agricultural biomass burning, 8.1% (K and benzo(<i>g</i>,<i>h</i>,<i>i</i>)perylene),
and (5) agriculture with wastewater, 5.2% (δ<sup>15</sup>N and
P). These results indicated high deposition of bioaccumulative air
pollutants at MV, especially at the industrial area. Since
<i>T. recurvata</i> reflected the regional differences in
exposition, it is recommended as a biomonitor for comparisons within
and among countries where it is distributed: southern USA to
Argentina.
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