PAHS and metals accumulation in leaves of urban evergreen shrubs

Urban vegetation plays a role in the interception and degradation of air pollutants in cities (1). Trees, shrubs and plants can improve the quality of the air we breathe. Dense screens of trees and shrubs can be used efficiently to provide quieter areas in city parks where people can relax away from the constant background noise of city life. In addition, the foliage of vegetation can trap certain air pollutants, especially air-borne particulates (PM10), removing them from the urban atmosphere (2). We report about a study on the concentration of PAHs and metals in the leaves of evergreen shrubs exposed to PM10. Analyses were performed on adult specimens of the evergreen Viburnum lucidum, Photinia x fraserii, Laurus nobilis, Ligustrum japonicum, Ilex aquifolium and Elaeagnus x ebbingei, transplanted in November 2009 and sampled in several seasons. Data interpretation can benefit from ultrastructural analysis of foliar surface by SEM. (1) F. De Nicola, C. Lancellotti, M.V. Prati, G. Maisto, A. Alfani, Atmospheric Environment, 45 (2011) 1428-1433 (2) M. Ottel\ue9, H.D. van Bohemen; A.L.A. Fraaij, Ecological Engineering, 36 (2010) 154- 16