6533b82cfe1ef96bd1290127

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Rare earths and trace elements contents in leaves: A new indicator of the composition of atmospheric dust

Edda Elisa FalconeClaudio InguaggiatoPaolo CensiGiuseppina CuttittaV. LatteoFilippo SaianoFabio Cibella

subject

Environmental Engineering010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciencesHealth Toxicology and MutagenesisSettore AGR/13 - Chimica Agraria010501 environmental sciencesPlant Roots01 natural sciencesSoilREE La anomaly Leaves anthropogenic signature trace elementsEnvironmental ChemistryEcosystemSoil compositionSicily0105 earth and related environmental sciencesAtmosphereAnomaly (natural sciences)Public Health Environmental and Occupational HealthTrace elementDustGeneral MedicineGeneral ChemistryAtmospheric dustPollutionTrace ElementsSettore GEO/08 - Geochimica E VulcanologiaPlant LeavesTrace (semiology)Environmental chemistrySoil waterEnvironmental scienceMetals Rare EarthComposition (visual arts)Environmental Monitoring

description

The relationship between the trace element distribution in atmospheric particles and leaves of some exposed plants in the environment was recently demonstrated. This indication would suggest that the trace element analysis of leaves in these plants could provide information about the composition, nature and origin of the atmospheric dust dispersed in the environment. In order to corroborate this hypothesis, the distribution of trace elements and Rare Earths were studied in leaves of some endemic plants, in the atmospheric fallout and in soils of rural, urban and industrial ecosystems in Sicily. These elements have been chosen to discriminate the source and nature of different source on atmospheric dust and the larger capability of the composition of the latter materials to influence the metal ion distribution in leaves of studied plants rather than the soil composition. These evidences are related to the recognition both of positive La anomaly and trace element enrichments in studied leaves and to their particular V/Th and Co/Ni signature. On the other hand, some particular normalised REE features recognised in leaves suggest that a limited contribution to the REE budget in studied leaves is provided by the REE migration from roots.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2017-02-01Chemosphere
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.11.085