Thesis
Assessment of urban airborne potentially toxic elements using bioindicator plants
- Creator
- Rights statement
- Awarding institution
- University of Strathclyde
- Date of award
- 2024
- Thesis identifier
- T17074
- Person Identifier (Local)
- 201980536
- Qualification Level
- Qualification Name
- Department, School or Faculty
- Abstract
- Airborne potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are persistent pollutants that pose a threat to human health. Plants serve as a sink for airborne PTEs and so can be used as bioindicators of air quality. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding selection of appropriate plant species, whilst variations in analytical methods make it difficult to compare results of different studies. This research optimized a method for preparation of bioindicator plant samples for microwave-assisted digestion and ICP-MS analysis, then applied it to study airborne PTEs in outdoor and indoor settings. A miniaturisation experiment indicated that either 0.1 g or 0.2 g samples produced consistent results for all the PTEs studied when digested in 20 mL of nitric acid. A stainless-steel grinder was preferred to hand grinding or use of a mortar and pestle in the comminution of moss, lichen, pine needles and rhododendron samples. The optimal plant washing regime was sequential treatment with Tween80, 1 M HCl, then deionized water (washing is required since the amounts of PTE deposited on plant surfaces are determined by difference between results obtained for unwashed and washed samples). The effect of rainfall on PTE retention on three outdoor bioindicator plants with contrasting textures was studied. Loss of PTEs was significant in hairy-textured samples, while the waxy-textured foliage was least affected. The behavior of bark depended on whether it was rough or smooth. Finally, indoor airborne PTEs were monitored over a three-month period in three university buildings using Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum Kochii). Levels of PTEs increased over time and were similar in all three buildings (except for Ni). This suggests that the age of the building was not the main factor affecting the composition of dust deposited, but rather a common source such as the high background levels of PTEs in the urban soils of Glasgow.
- Advisor / supervisor
- Davidson, Christine
- Resource Type
- DOI
- Funder
- Embargo Note
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File | 2024-11-22 | Embargo |