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Isotopic biomonitoring of anthropic carbon emissions in a megalopolis.

ABSTRACT: Atmospheric pollution has become a serious threat for human health and the environment. However, the deployment, operation and maintenance of monitoring networks can represent a high cost for local governments. In certain locations, the use of naturally occurring plants for monitoring pollution can be a useful supplement of existing monitoring networks, and even provide information when other types of monitoring are lacking. In this work, we (i) determined the tissue carbon content and the ?¹³C values for the epiphytic CAM bromeliad Tillandsia recurvata and the relationship of both parameters with the existing CO concentrations in the Valley of Mexico basin and (ii) mapped the spatial distribution of such elemental and isotopic composition for this plant within the basin, in order to assess its potential as an atmospheric biomonitor of carbon monoxide, a pollutant with important repercussions on public health. The CO concentrations in the basin ranged from 0.41 ppm at rural locations to 0.81 ppm at urban sites. The carbon content of T. recurvata, which averaged 42.9 ± 0.34% (dry weight), was not influenced by the surrounding CO concentration. In contrast, the ?¹³C depended on the sites where the plants were collected. For example, the values were -13.2‰ in rural areas and as low as -17.5‰ in an urban site. Indeed, the isotopic values had a positive linear relationship with the atmospheric CO concentrations. Given the close relationship observed between the isotopic composition of T. recurvata with the CO concentrations in the Valley of Mexico, the ?¹³C values can be useful for the detection of atmospheric carbonaceous emissions.

SUBMITTER: Diaz-Alvarez EA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7263291 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Isotopic biomonitoring of anthropic carbon emissions in a megalopolis.

Díaz-Álvarez Edison A EA de la Barrera Erick E

PeerJ 20200529

Atmospheric pollution has become a serious threat for human health and the environment. However, the deployment, operation and maintenance of monitoring networks can represent a high cost for local governments. In certain locations, the use of naturally occurring plants for monitoring pollution can be a useful supplement of existing monitoring networks, and even provide information when other types of monitoring are lacking. In this work, we (i) determined the tissue carbon content and the δ<sup ...[more]

PMID: 32523817

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Isotopic biomonitoring of anthropic carbon emissions in a megalopolis.

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Isotopic biomonitoring of anthropic carbon emissions in a megalopolis.

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