Lichens as biomonitors for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Caracas Valley,Venezuela |
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| Authors: | Raiza Fernández Freddy Galarraga Zully Benzo Gonzalo Márquez M. Gabriela Requiz |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra , Universidad Central de Venezuela , Caracas, 1041-A, 47325, Venezuela;2. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC) , Centro de Química , Caracas, 1020-A, 20632, Venezuela;3. Departamento de Ingeniería Minera, Mecánica y Energética , Universidad de Huelva , La Rábida, 21819, Huelva, Spain |
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| Abstract: | ![]()
Biomonitoring of PAH air pollution using lichens was carried out. Sixteen PAHs were studied in 11 locations along the valley of Caracas (Venezuela). The results of this work indicate that 14 of the 16 analysed PAHs were highly accumulated into the lichen thalli of Pyxine coralligera Malme. PAH levels in the samples revealed that the several volatile PAHs (naphthalene, acenaphtylene, acenaphtene, and fluoranthene) have the highest levels in the majority of the studied locations. The fluoranthene/pyrene and phenantrene/antracene ratios suggested that the major sources of PAHs are anthropogenic, mainly associated with gasoline and diesel combustion (pyrolytic) and unburnt oil derivates (petrogenic). The total PAH concentrations obtained in the present study were in the range of 0.24 to 9.08?µg/g, similar to those reported by other works in European and Asian cities. |
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| Keywords: | PAHs atmospheric pollution Pyxine coralligera Malme fossil fuels Caracas |
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