An analysis of the distribution of surface ozone in Tuscany (central Italy) with the use of a new miniaturized bioassay with ozone-sensitive tobacco seedlings

Lorenzini, Giacomo; Nali, Cristina; Biagioni, Massimo

doi:10.1007/bf00546246

Cited by 14 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…No phytotoxic effect was detected on the O 3 -resistant tobacco Bel-B. As previously reported, 41,42 cotyledons of Bel-W3 proved to be more sensitive to O 3 than the first leaves, in terms of visible necrotic injury, with a CII:LII ratio of 1.26:1. However, the responses of these two organs were linearly related (Y ~0.87X 2 0.11, R 2 0.63, n ~95), confirming what has been reported by Taylor.…”

Section: Biomonitoring Of Ozone With Tobacco Seedlingssupporting

confidence: 75%

Plants as indicators of urban air pollution (ozone and trace elements) in Pisa, Italy

Nali

Crocicchi

Lorenzini

2004

J. Environ. Monitor.

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A biennial integrated survey, based on the use of vascular plants for the bioindication of the effects of tropospheric ozone, was performed in the area of Pisa (Tuscany, Central Italy). It also investigated the distribution of selected trace elements in plants and the data were compared with those obtained from the use of passive samplers, automatic analysers of ozone and lichen biodiversity. Photochemically produced ozone proved to be present during the warm season, with maximum hourly means surpassing 100 ppb: the use of supersensitive tobacco Bel-W3 confirmed the value of detailed, cost-effective, monitoring surveys. Trials with clover clones demonstrate that sensitive plants undergo severe biomass reduction in the current ozone regime. The mean NC-S (clover clone sensitive to ozone):NC-R (resistant) biomass ratio ranged from 0.7 (in 1999) to 0.5 (in 2000). The economic impact of these reductions deserves attention. The data obtained using passive ozone samplers exceeded those obtained using an automatic analyser. The mapping of epiphytic lichen biodiversity was not related to the geographical ozone distribution as can be seen from the tobacco's response. Lettuce plants grown under standardized conditions were used positively as bioaccumulators of trace elements: Pb was abundantly recovered, but a large portion of this element was removed by washing.

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Section: Biomonitoring Of Ozone With Tobacco Seedlingssupporting

confidence: 75%

Plants as indicators of urban air pollution (ozone and trace elements) in Pisa, Italy

Nali

Crocicchi

Lorenzini

2004

J. Environ. Monitor.

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“…Considering the protection of forest trees, the critical levels are set at an AOT40 value of 10,000 ppb h over 6 months (i.e., a weekly bulk average of 417 ppb h (Nali et al 2007) or 834 ppb h for 2 weeks). During our study, the average 14-day AOT40 value was significantly higher, reaching at least 900 ppb h. This ozone evolution seems to be similar to those observed in several regions in other Mediterranean countries (Lorenzini 1994;Lorenzini et al 1995;Saitanis 2003;Nali et al 2007;Laffray et al 2007). The trend in AOT40 (Fig.…”

Section: Aot40 At the Monitoring Stations During Exposure Periodsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…The negative relationships linking wind velocity to ozone concentration (Fig. 5) could be explained by a dilution effect with wind activity which leads to a lowering of ozone levels (Lorenzini et al 1995;Ellis et al 2000) and, consequently, lower plant leaf injury. Increasing wind speed of north winds coming from the Mediterranean basin tends to reduce the resistance of the land surface to the deposition of ozone and may result in a decrease of ozone concentration levels.…”

Section: Tobacco's Plant Leaf Damage In Relation To Altitudinal and Cmentioning

confidence: 94%

Ozone Level Assessment on the Boukornine National Park (Tunisia) using Plant Biomonitoring: Influence of Altitudinal Parameter and Meteorological Conditions

Mechergui

Mansoura

Laffray

et al. 2009

Water Air Soil Pollut

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The variations of tropospheric ozone levels was assessed for the first time in the Boukornine National Park (N.E. Tunisia) by detection of leaf injury development on Nicotiana tabacum "Bel-W3" exposed to environmental conditions during summer 2004. Two cultivars of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), Bel-W3 (sensitive) and Bel-B (resistant to ozone), were used for this biomonitoring study. These cultivars were dispersed in 24 different biostations, according to a square grid mesh, every 2 weeks. Four successive cultures were utilized to follow the ozone levels inside the park during the summer exposure period. Levels of ozone may vary in time and space depending on the local environmental and meteorological conditions. The results showed a positive correlation between ozone concentration and foliar injury index (FII; r=0.958; p<0.05). A significant positive correlation was observed between the FII of Bel-W3 tobacco plant and AOT40 (accumulated over the threshold of 40 ppb). The altitude appeared to be the most important variable explaining the variation of ozone pollution with the highest correlation coefficient (r=0.964; p<0.0001). The altitude was followed by topography for the prediction of ozone concentration levels. Maximal temperature was also an important factor in addition to the others in determining the FII and was negatively correlated with the FII (r=−0.979; p<0.05). Average ambient ozone levels were positively linked to plant leaf damage. The ozone profile characterizing the study area was primarily influenced by wind direction and speed in relation to intercontinental transport, in addition to the local influence of motor vehicles traffic flow in the Tunis region.

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“…A large scale campaign with the use of the miniaturized kit has been performed in seven districts of Tuscany. 33 Another trial demonstrated the presence of phytotoxic ozone in the small remote islands of Capraia and Gorgona (Tyrrhenian Sea), where local sources of precursors are negligible. 34 Assessments with this kit were also carried out in France and the UK.…”

Section: Ozone Bioindicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological monitoring of ozone: the twenty-year Italian experience

2006

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Tropospheric ozone is a growing environmental menace in Italy and in the whole Mediterranean basin. The importance of active biomonitoring of this pollutant with hypersensitive Bel-W3 tobacco plants is stressed, and several examples of field studies carried out in Italy with this technique are presented. Current limitations are discussed, with special emphasis on data quality assessment and the opportunity of adopting easy-to-use kits based on tobacco germlings instead of adult plants. A standardization of methodologies (from cultivation to scoring and data elaboration), also at an international level, is strongly felt to be needed, in order to get official acknowledgement of biomonitoring procedures. Potential educational implications, with the active involvement of students and environmentalists, are shown. Other biological indicators are used, namely sensitive and resistant white clover (Trifolium repens) clones (as descriptors of biomass reduction in crops species) and Centaurea jacea (brown knapweed) as a model species to evaluate the relationship between ozone exposure and effects on the performance and injury symptoms of native plants which are largely used in the framework of European programmes.

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An analysis of the distribution of surface ozone in Tuscany (central Italy) with the use of a new miniaturized bioassay with ozone-sensitive tobacco seedlings

Cited by 14 publications

References 15 publications

Plants as indicators of urban air pollution (ozone and trace elements) in Pisa, Italy

Plants as indicators of urban air pollution (ozone and trace elements) in Pisa, Italy

Ozone Level Assessment on the Boukornine National Park (Tunisia) using Plant Biomonitoring: Influence of Altitudinal Parameter and Meteorological Conditions

Biological monitoring of ozone: the twenty-year Italian experience

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