Declining trends of PCDD/Fs in lichens over a decade in a Mediterranean area with multiple pollution sources

Transplanted Lichen Pseudovernia furfuracea as a Multi-Tracer Monitoring Tool Near a Solid Waste Incinerator in Italy: Assessment of Airborne Incinerator-Related Pollutants

“…These results prompt two relevant considerations: the first is related to air pollution and emissions of PCDDs and PCDFs; the second is associated with the use of lichens as biomonitoring tools. Our results confirm that PCDD and PCDF levels have declined in recent decades, in accord with the decreasing trend reported for emissions of these compounds (Augusto et al 2015). In addition, it is important to note that the transplanted lichen samples were exposed for 6 months, while the cited researchers analysed native lichens that had been ''perpetually'' exposed to the air pollution of the monitored areas.…”

“…The levels of total PCDDs and PCDFs ranged from 60.1 to 109.0 pg/g dw, respectively, across the monitoring stations. The concentrations are within the same order of magnitude as those reported for other lichen species located in Mediterranean areas (industrial/urban scenarios characterized by multiple pollution sources, but with a climate similar to that of our study area) for the same year, but slightly lower than those reported for lichen samples collected and analysed 10 years previously (Augusto et al 2015). Likewise, even considering the concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs in terms of I-TEQ values, we measured low values compared to those recovered by Augusto et al (2007), with I-TEQs ranging between 3.22 and 8.19 pg I-TEQ/g dw (Table 1).…”

“…No previous studies have calculated the E/C ratio to evaluate the accumulations of PCDDs, PCDFs or PCBs in lichens; thus, it is not possible to compare our results with those of other studies. Previous studies (Garty et al 1982;Cabrerizo et al 2012;Holma-Suutari et al 2014;Augusto et al 2013Augusto et al , 2015 have demonstrated that lichens are able to bioaccumulate airborne concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs; however, these experiments were almost always performed using native lichens or lichens transplanted for a long period of exposure. Besides, no study reported a ''multi-tracers'' approach with the simultaneous determination of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs.…”

“…Besides, recent studies (Cabrerizo et al 2012;Holma-Suutari et al 2014;Augusto et al 2015) have demonstrated that various species of lichens can be used as effective tools for the biomonitoring of airborne contamination related to PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs. However, to our knowledge, no studies to date have used the transplantation technique to simultaneously evaluate the air concentrations of compounds belonging to PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs.…”

Long-time monitoring of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans over a decade in the ambient air of Porto, Portugal

“…After global agreements to minimize PCDD/PCDF emissions and introduction of strict emission limits for European industries during the last decade, the industrial facilities have reduced emission of these compounds and the success of these controls can be seen in published time trends (Augusto et al, 2014;Bruckmann et al, 2013;Directive 2000/76/EC, 2000. According to EEA (2013) between 1990 and 2011, PCDD/PCDF emissions dropped in the EU-27 by 85%.…”