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2610952 
Journal Article 
Comprehensive assessment of pine needles as bioindicators of PAHs using multivariate analysis. The importance of temporal trends 
Ratola, N; Amigo, JM; Alves, A 
2010 
Yes 
Chemosphere
ISSN: 0045-6535
EISSN: 1879-1298 
81 
11 
1517-1525 
20833410 
WOS:000285034700020 
The importance of the annual and seasonal trends associated to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) biomonitoring by pine needles are studied with a comprehensive use of univariate and multivariate analysis tools For this purpose, four pine needle sampling campaigns (winter, spring, summer and autumn 2007) were carried out in 29 sites from Portugal. Needles from Pinus master Air, and Anus pinea L. trees were collected from all year-classes available in each tree, corresponding to the different shoots of needles coming out every spring and the results of both species were treated separately Annual trends of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination indicate a general Increase from the least to the most exposed year-classes, for all seasons. The mean values for the sum of 16 PAHs ranged from 71 +/- 33 ng g(-1) (dry weight - dw) for new year (2007) needles in the summer to 514 +/- 317 ng g(-1) (dw) for 2-year needles (2005) in the spring for P. pinea, and between 90 +/- 50 ng g(-1) (dw) for new year (2007) needles in the summer and 1212 +/- 436 ng g(-1) (dw) for 3-year needles (2004) in summer for P master. The seasonal evolution shows the highest concentrations in the winter, then declining to the lowest levels in the summer and rising again from summer to autumn. Principal component analysis confirmed differences between seasons and needle year-classes, more visible for P pinea samples The cooler seasons have more affinity towards the lighter more abundant PAHs, as do the older needles. Differences between both pine species are also evident (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved 
Pine needles; Biomonitoring; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Temporal trends; Principal component analysis