Levels of persistent organic pollutants in pine tree components and ambient air.

Pine needles are employed as alternative biomonitoring agents in atmospheric studies. In this study, pine (Pinus Pinea) components (needles and branches) and air samples were collected simultaneously to monitor polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from Gemlik, Turkey between January and December 2016. The relationship between ambient air and pine needles were examined to enlighten the usability of pine components as passive samplers for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Marmara region. Average ∑PAH concentrations for the ambient air, pine needles, and pine branches were 23.1 ± 18.3 ng/m, 626 ± 306 ng/g DW and 548 ± 261 ng/g DW respectively. PCB concentrations were 118 ± 74 pg/m, 7.5 ± 2.1 ng/g DW and 6.8 ± 2.9 ng/g DW and ∑ OCP concentrations were 122 ± 89 ng/m,1.3 ± 1.5 ng/g DW and 10.0 ± 3.8 ng/g DW in the same order. Levels of PAHs and PCBs were higher in needles than branches. PAH, PCB and OCP concentrations in pine components tended to decrease with increasing temperatures in spring. PAH compounds with medium and light molecular weighted ones were found to be dominant. On the other hand, the predominant PCB components were the medium-weighted congeners while γ-HCH, Heptachlor endo. Epox. Iso A, endrin aldehyde, and methoxychlor were the dominant OCP species.