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Author: Krauss et. Al Presentation : Prasesh Sharma

Atmospheric vs Biological sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAHs) in a tropical rain forest. Author: Krauss et. Al Presentation : Prasesh Sharma. PAH (polyaromatic hydrocarbons). Larger systems of benzene ring structure fused together is called PAH

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Author: Krauss et. Al Presentation : Prasesh Sharma

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  1. Atmospheric vs Biological sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAHs) in a tropical rain forest Author: Krauss et. Al Presentation : Prasesh Sharma

  2. PAH (polyaromatic hydrocarbons) Larger systems of benzene ring structure fused together is called PAH Chemistry of the structures is the same but usually more reactive then benzene Benzene Anthracene Naphthalene Phenanthrene Perylene

  3. Sources of PAHs • PAHs mainly arise from combustion-related or oil-related man-made sources. • burning of coal, oil, gas, wood, tobacco, rubbish, and other organic substances. • also present in coal tars, crude oil, and petroleum products such as asphalt. • ubiquitous environmental contaminants • natural sources : forest fires and volcanoes,

  4. Effects of PAH • Short-term : irritation, nausea, • Long term : Carcinogenic • Reproductive failures • Kidney, liver damage, jaundice • Bioaccumulates rapidly in aquatic life

  5. Introduction • PAH burden in temperate env– mostly pyrogenic • Burning of fossil fuels, coal, oil refining etc • Essential to understand and predict the global dynamics and trends of these compounds • Tropical rain forest : limited knowledge of its distribution • Recently, biological sources of PAHs have been known.

  6. GENERAL INFORMATION • Evidence of NAPH derived from its presence in Magnolia • NAPH produced by a muscodor vitigenus (endophytic fungus) • High concentration in termite nests- forms a part of the termite defensive system. • Comparision of 13C between termite nests and fossil fuel derived PERY : bio. production occurs in termite nests • Look for natural sources or PAHs production

  7. Objective • To monitor PAH concentration in different compartments of a tropical rain forest • Assess sources of PAHs ( atm.Vs bio.) by examining their distribution and relating PAHs concentrations in air to those in external plant parts.

  8. Study site • 30km north or Manaus, Brazil. • Lowland, tropical rain forest region mixed with fallow land, agricultural land and secondary forests.

  9. Sampling and analyses • SAMPLING • Particulate and gaseous PAHs in air by membrane pump • Plant samples : stem, twigs, bark, leaves • Termite nests sampled : inner wall, outer wall, nursery and gallery • Soil samples, Litter layers : oil, dead leaves, dead plants, and other organisms collected on the ground • Samples were also taken in urban areas for comparision. • Plant samples from 1 primary and 3 secondary forests. • Analysis • PAHs extracted by Gas Chromatography and quantified with Mass Spectrometry

  10. Gas Chromatography For separation of volatile organic compounds

  11. Mass Spectrometry

  12. Calculations • Sum of all concentrations : ∑21 PAHs • 18 pyrogenic + 3 possibly biogenic (NAPH, PERY, PHEN) • Sum of 18 pyrogenic concn: ∑18 PAHs

  13. Results : Plants • Highest concentration of PAHs in the following order • Leaves >bark > twigs > stem • ∑18PAHs follow same trend as ∑21PAHs, except NAPH • Biological production of PAHs assessed ! • In case of PHEN : remarkably high concentrations in bark and twigs - > via biogenesis.

  14. Results: Plant-air distribution Octanol-air coef. = [K]octanol/[K]air Log KOA : octanol-air coefficient Log KLA : avge. concentration in air The octanol-air partition coefficient is a measure of chemical partitioning between the atmosphere and the organic matter in the environment.

  15. Results: Plant-air distribution • All PAHs plotted show plant-air distribution that fits well into the perception of PAH uptake by plants from air • Proof that source of most PAHs is the atmosphere. • However, NAPH behaves differently • NAPH – very high concentrations in plant tissue to that in air !!! • To reach those concentration levels by equilibrium partitioning => concentration of NAPH in air must be 50 times higher.

  16. Results : Mineral Topsoil • Fate of PAHs during organic matter transformation from litter to mineral soil acsessed • Enrichment factor of >1 in the topsoil compared to the litter layer. • PERY about 4 times than other compounds: microbial synthesis of PERY in soil !

  17. Results : Termite nests Log KOWA ( outer wall-air ) vs Log KOA Regression line only for log KA < 7.5 Similarity to earlier log plots

  18. Results : Termite nests • Nest is made up of : digested dead or living wood. • Concentration of 18PAHs higher in the outer wall and the gallery => pyrogenic deposition • Higher concentrations of NAPH than expected in outer wall and gallery … same case as in plant air distribution • Higher concentration of NAPH and PERY in central part of the termite nests.

  19. Conclusions • Naphthalene by far the most abundant PAH in the whole ecosystem • Most PAHs derived from biomass or fossil fuel combustion and is distributed in the atmosphere. • Numerous local biological sources of PAHs are present, more research is needed in the area !!! • Similarity in patterns to temperate regions

  20. References • Wilcke et.al 2003 , PAHs patterns in climatically different ecological zones of Brazil • http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/epb/envfacts/pah.html • http://www.separationsnow.com/basehtml/SepH/1,,1-5-7-0-51405-ezine-0-2,00.html • http://oz.plymouth.edu/~chrisc/FishResBAFFM.htm • http://emsi.osu.edu/emsi_kids/PAH.htm

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