During the last decade, paralleling the introduction of unleaded fuel, an evident decrease of Pb levels in air and a general increasing trend of Pt has been observed. The aim of this study was to evaluate Pt levels in the leaves of holm-oak (Quercus ilex L.). It was used as biomonitor because it is common as an ornamental plant in parks, gardens and streets of the city of Caserta (Southern Italy). The Pt levels from 2001 in leaves of one year old holm-oak taken from 5 sites (streets and squares), characterized by different traffic flow within the urban area, were detected and compared to the control site. The correlations between Pt contents and some trace elements (Pb and Cu) were also investigated. The data showed a significant higher Pt contents in all sites compared to the control site. By comparing 2001 and 2007 a significant Pb decrease in all studied sites was observed, as expected because only vehicles with unleaded fuel circulate from 2001. No correlation was observed between Pt and Pb, except for site 2, where there was a negative correlation. Instead, it was observed, a positive correlation between Pt and Cu in all sites, suggesting that these two elements are strongly linked. In fact Cu is found both in petrol and diesel at a concentration of 1.7mg/kg and can also come from the catalytic converter. © by PSP.

OCCURRENCE OF PLATINUM IN THE LEAVES OF HOLM-OAK (Quercus ilex L.) FROM DIFFERENT SITES (STREETS AND SQUARES) IN THE CITY OF CASERTA (ITALY)

PAPA, Stefania;FIORETTO, Antonietta
2010

Abstract

During the last decade, paralleling the introduction of unleaded fuel, an evident decrease of Pb levels in air and a general increasing trend of Pt has been observed. The aim of this study was to evaluate Pt levels in the leaves of holm-oak (Quercus ilex L.). It was used as biomonitor because it is common as an ornamental plant in parks, gardens and streets of the city of Caserta (Southern Italy). The Pt levels from 2001 in leaves of one year old holm-oak taken from 5 sites (streets and squares), characterized by different traffic flow within the urban area, were detected and compared to the control site. The correlations between Pt contents and some trace elements (Pb and Cu) were also investigated. The data showed a significant higher Pt contents in all sites compared to the control site. By comparing 2001 and 2007 a significant Pb decrease in all studied sites was observed, as expected because only vehicles with unleaded fuel circulate from 2001. No correlation was observed between Pt and Pb, except for site 2, where there was a negative correlation. Instead, it was observed, a positive correlation between Pt and Cu in all sites, suggesting that these two elements are strongly linked. In fact Cu is found both in petrol and diesel at a concentration of 1.7mg/kg and can also come from the catalytic converter. © by PSP.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11591/165087
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