title: PCDD/F and PCB in spruce forests of the Alps.
abstract: PCDD/F and PCB concentrations in remote mountainous spruce stands of the Central European Alps show strong geographic variation. Independent of the matrix (0.5 year old needles, humus or mineral soil), the highest pollutant levels were always found at the lateral zones of the mountain range. High levels coincided with strong precipitation, particularly along the northern margin of the study region. The most volatile PCB congener propagated farther into the colder, drier central Alps than the heavier species. Matrices with different accumulation history (needles and humus) repeatedly reflected different spatial emission patterns. Consistent with its much longer exposure, pollutant levels in humus exceeded those of needles by up to two orders of magnitude. Needle contamination varied with altitude but the vertical trends were highly variable between transsects and changed between years, too.
authors: Austrian Environment Agency, Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090 Vienna, Austria. ivo.offenthaler@umweltbundesamt.at
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Offenthaler
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Bassan
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Belis
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Jakobi
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kirchner
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Kräuchi
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Moche
authors: K-W
authors: KW
authors: Schramm
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Sedivy
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Simoncic
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Uhl
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005060:Europe; D005843:Geography; D028222:Picea / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis*; D014197:Trees / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011108:Polymers; C016068:polychlorodibenzofuran; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls