engleski

Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in vegetation samples collected in Croatia

A pilot study was conducted to screen levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in needles of coniferous trees and in leaves, as markers of environmental pollution. Samples were collected between 1992 and 1995. Pine needles (17 samples) were collected from three sites in the Adriatic area (south face of the mountain Velebit, Križišće and island Krk) and three sites in the inland area (Zagreb, mountain Medvednica and Ogulin). PCBs, DDD, DDE, HCB, alpha-HCH and gamma-HCH were detected in all samples and their concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 22.0 ng/g dry weight. The frequency of p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT and beta-HCH was slightly lower and their concentrations ranged up to 3.2. Concentrations seem to vary according the sampling year. Fifteen samples from fir, spruce, larch, thuja, and from lime were all collected in Ogulin; the OCPs and PCBs levels were within the range in pine needles, but the distribution pattern depended on the species. Judging from the ratios DDE/DDT and alpha-HCH/gamma-HCH it seems that no input of DDT occurred during or recently before the sampling, while it seems that gamma-HCH (lindane) was released into the environment.

air pollution; pine needles; bioaccumulation; biomonitoring

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