Search

Particle matter (PM) and its associated compounds are a serious problem for urban air quality and a threat to human health. In the present study, we assessed the intraurban variation of PM, and characterized the human health risk associated to the inhalation of particles measured on PM filters, considering different land use areas in the urban area of Cordoba city (Argentina) and different age groups. To assess the intraurban variation of PM, a biomonitoring network of T. capillaris was established in 15 sampling sites with different land use and the bioaccumulation of Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn was quantified. After that, particles were collected by instrumental monitors placed at the most representative sampling sites of each land use category and an inhalation risk was calculated. A remarkable intraurban difference in the heavy metals content measured in the biomonitors was observed, in relation with the sampling site land use. The higher content was detected at industrial areas as well as in sites with intense vehicular traffic. Mean PM 10 levels exceeded the standard suggested by the U.S. EPA in all land use areas, except for the downtown. Hazard Index values were below EPA's safe limit in all land use areas and in the different age groups. In contrast, the carcinogenic risk analysis showed that all urban areas exceeded the acceptable limit (1 × 10 −6 ), while the industrial sampling sites and the elder group presented a carcinogenic risk higher that the unacceptable limit. These findings validate the use of T. capillaris to assess intraurban air quality and also show there is an important intraurban variation in human health risk associated to different land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric pollution in megacities has a major impact on human health and environmental quality. Air quality bioindicators may have some advantages over standard devices such as impactors or filters. In this study we evaluated the reliability of Tillandsia sp. versus passive filters for monitoring the atmospheric deposition of metal(loid)s in an area affected by anthropogenic activities. We aimed to gain insight into the composition and origin of atmospheric particles and their fate after deposition on the plant. Three zones with different contamination levels were monitored for five months in 2012. For the highly contaminated area, a linear increase in metal(loïd) accumulation was found in passive filters, whereas for transplanted Tillandsia capillaris the increase was almost linear for As, Cd, Hg, and Sn, but not for Ag, Pb, Sb, and Zn. For the moderately contaminated zone, the results showed that the exposure time was not sufficient for metal(loid) concentrations to increase in either the plants or filters. However, natural specimens provided some indications of the levels of metal contamination. Metal particles were observed on the plant surface and also in the central disc underneath tillandsia trichomes, suggesting that this is a possible pathway for metals to enter the plant. X-ray absorption spectroscopy demonstrated chemical transformation for Pb and As, both in filters and plants. For Pb, sorbed Pb and/or cell wall complexes were identified in the plants. No As III -S species, indicative of As detoxification, were identified in the plant. Arsenic was oxidized from As III to As V in both plants and filters. Thus, in the present study, passive filters proved more reliable than T. capillaris transplants, although natural specimens provided some insights into local contamination. Particulate contaminants underwent chemical transformation after being trapped in the plant, but there was no clear evidence of internalization and detoxification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The influence of a cement plant that incinerates industrial waste on the air quality of a region in the province of Córdoba, Argentina, was assessed by means of biomonitoring studies (effects of immission) and atmospheric dispersion (effects of emission) of PM10 with the application of the ISC3 model (Industrial Source Complex) developed by the USEPA (Environmental Protection Agency). For the biomonitoring studies, samples from the epiphyte plant Tillandsia capillaris Ruíz & Pav. f. capillaris were transplanted to the vicinities of the cement plant in order to determine the physiological damage and heavy metal accumulation (Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb). For the application of the ISC3 model, point and area sources from the cement plant were considered to obtain average PM10 concentration results from the biomonitoring exposure period. This model permitted it to be determined that the emissions from the cement plant (point and area sources) were confined to the vicinities, without significant dispersion in the study area. This was also observed in the biomonitoring study, which identified Ca, Cd and Pb, pH and electric conductivity (EC) as biomarkers of this cement plant. Vehicular traffic emissions and soil re-suspension could be observed in the biomonitors, giving a more complete scenario. In this study, biomonitoring studies along with the application of atmospheric dispersion models, allowed the atmospheric pollution to be assessed in more detail. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Monitoring atmospheric trace elements (TE) levels and tracing their source origin is essential for exposure assessment and human health studies. Epiphytic Tillandsia capillaris plants were used as bioaccumulator of TE in a complex polymetallic mining/smelting urban context (Oruro, Bolivia). Specimens collected from a pristine reference site were transplanted at a high spatial resolution (∼1 sample/km2) throughout the urban area. About twenty-seven elements were measured after a 4-month exposure, also providing new information values for reference material BCR482. Statistical power analysis for this biomonitoring mapping approach against classical aerosols surveys performed on the same site showed the better aptitude of T. Capillaris to detect geographical trend, and to deconvolute multiple contamination sources using geostatistical principal component analysis. Transplanted specimens in the vicinity of the mining and smelting areas were characterized by extreme TE accumulation (Sn > Ag > Sb > Pb > Cd > As > W > Cu > Zn). Three contamination sources were identified: mining (Ag, Pb, Sb), smelting (As, Sn) and road traffic (Zn) emissions, confirming results of previous aerosol survey. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tillandsia capillaris Ruiz & Pav., which belongs to the subgenus Diaphoranthema is distributed in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northern and central Argentina, and Chile, and includes forms that are difficult to circumscribe, thus considered to form a complex. The entities of this complex are predominantly small-sized epiphytes, adapted to xeric environments. The most widely used classification defines 5 forms for this complex based on few morphological reproductive traits: T. capillaris Ruiz & Pav. f. capillaris, T. capillaris f. incana (Mez) L.B. Sm., T. capillaris f. cordobensis (Hieron.) L.B. Sm., T. capillaris f. hieronymi (Mez) L.B. Sm. and T. capillaris f. virescens (Ruiz & Pav.) L.B. Sm. In this study, 35 floral and vegetative characters were analyzed with a multivariate approach in order to assess and discuss different proposals for classification of the T. capillaris complex, which presents morphotypes that co-occur in central and northern Argentina. To accomplish this, data of quantitative and categorical morphological characters of flowers and leaves were collected from herbarium specimens and field collections and were analyzed with statistical multivariate techniques. The results suggest that the last classification for the complex seems more comprehensive and three taxa were delimited: T. capillaris (=T. capillaris f. incana-hieronymi), T. virescens s. str. (=T. capillaris f. cordobensis) and T. virescens s. l. (=T. capillaris f. virescens). While T. capillaris and T. virescens s. str. co-occur, T. virescens s. l. is restricted to altitudes above 2000 m in Argentina. Characters previously used for taxa delimitation showed continuous variation and therefore were not useful. New diagnostic characters are proposed and a key is provided for delimiting these three taxa within the complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Heavy metals accumulation by Tillandsia capillaris was measured to identify their main emission sources in the province of Córdoba, Argentina. Samples of T. capillaris collected over three years at different sites were analysed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry to determine the amounts of Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb and Zn. The sampling sites were categorized according to land use, anthropic activities and/or distance from the potential heavy metal emission sources. We found that the concentration of heavy metals in the study area is mainly driven by industrial activity while traffic contributed only to the levels of Zn. In addition, we observed a strong relationship between a diffuse emission source and the content of Pb accumulated on the biomonitors which could be attributed to dove hunting activities. Future studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The air quality in agricultural areas close to industrial emission sources (chemical, metallurgical and cement plant) was evaluated through a biomonitoring study employing the epiphytic species Tillandsia capillaris Ruíz and Pav. f. capillaris. Plants were collected from a non-contaminated area in the province of Córdoba (reference site) and transplanted back to this site and into three industrial areas representing different emission sources of air pollutants: cement plant, chemical and metallurgical industries. Biomonitors were exposed to ambient air for four periods of 3 months each during one year (for determination of physiological parameters) and for four periods of 6 months each during two years (for determination of trace elements). In the exposure period coinciding with the winter season (i.e., the dry season) the plants showed the strongest global physiological damage, possibly due to higher air pollutant concentrations. The comparison among study areas indicates the highest values of foliar damage index at the chemical industries sites, possibly due to the emission of oxidizing pollutants. On the other hand, heavy metals and trace element concentrations (V, Fe, Co, Cu, Br, Ni, Zn and Pb) were associated mainly with metallurgical industries, although the chemical industries and the cement plant were associated with Ni, Zn and Ca accumulation in the biomonitor, respectively. Considering that these sites with high industrial activity are located close to soybean producing areas, further environmental and toxicological studies are necessary, taking into account food safety and human health. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Tillandsia capillaris Ruiz and Pav. form capillaris and trace elements in T. capillaris and Lolium multiflorum (LAM) cv. Lema was assessed and evaluated in the city of Stuttgart, Germany. Several sites (urban, suburban and rural) categorized according to type and intensity of vehicular traffic were investigated. At these sites, plants of T. capillaris and standardized cultures of L. multiflorum were exposed to ambient air. Foliar concentrations of PAHs (16 priority pollutants according to US-EPA) and of the trace elements Br, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined. A high level of vehicular traffic was associated with the largest concentrations of PM10 in ambient air and with the highest contents of PAHs and heavy metals in the bioindicator plants. The results showed a similar pattern between T. capillaris and the standardized biomonitor L. multiflorum. Therefore, these results allow us to propose T. capillaris as a suitable bioindicator to assess the distribution of pollution impacts caused by PAHs and trace elements in different subtropical and tropical regions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The epiphyte plant Tillandsia capillaris was used as a passive biomonitor to study the relationship between elemental accumulation and emission sources in the province of Córdoba, Argentina. The concentrations of As, Ba, Br, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Gd, Hf, K, La, Lu, Na, Nd, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Ta, Tb, Th, U, Yb, and Zn were determined in T. capillaris leaves by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis. A variogram analysis was performed to identify the emission sources of these elements in the study area, obtaining different patterns for each element analysed. A principal-component analysis was subsequently performed to further confirm the different contaminant emission sources and it coincided with the results of the variogram analysis. We observed that the enrichment of most elements was associated with natural sources (soil) and that only some elements showed evidence of enrichement related to sources such as traffic (K, Sb and Zn), industries (Br), and mining activity (Ca). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The ability of Tillandsia capillaris Ruiz and Pav. f. capillaris and Tillandsia permutata A. Cast. to accumulate heavy metals was evaluated in relation to potential atmospheric emission sources in Argentina. The sampling areas (n =38) were chosen in the province of Córdoba, located in the center of Argentina, and categorized according to land use, anthropogenic activities and/or distance to potential heavy metal emission sources. In each sampling site, pools of 40–50 individuals of each species were made from plants collected along the four cardinal directions. The concentrations of V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Br of these samples were measured by Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF) analysis with Synchrotron Radiation. Each species was submitted to a cluster analysis in order to discriminate different groups of heavy metals as tracers of natural or anthropogenic sources. A Contamination Factor (CF) was calculated using the concentrations of the elements in each sample compared to their concentrations in the control samples. Finally, the rank coefficients of correlation between the CFs and the categorical variables characteristic of each site (land use and anthropogenic load) were analyzed. A positive correlation was found for T. capillaris between the CFs of V, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn and the urban-industrial category, whereas the CF values for Zn and Pb were positively correlated with the road category. In T. permutata there was a positive correlation between the CF of Zn and the urban-industrial category and the CF of Pb with the road category. We therefore conclude that T. capillaris is a more efficient metal accumulator in passive biomonitoring studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]