title: Leaves of Phragmites australis as potential atmospheric biomonitors of Platinum Group Elements.
abstract: The increasing emissions of Platinum Group Elements (PGEs), namely Pt, Pd and Rh, may pose a significant risk to ecosystem processes and human health. A periodic assessment of PGEs distribution in the environment is thus of the utmost importance for the implementation of timely measures of mitigation. Although several studies have quantified PGEs in different life forms such as mammals, birds, fish, crustaceans, algae, mosses and even human beings, data about vascular plants need further surveys. This study aimed to test the suitability of the grass Phragmites australis (common reed) as a biomonitor of PGEs atmospheric pollution. The results showed that Pd and Pt concentrations in leaves are significantly higher in urban areas. In particular, Pd showed the highest range of values in line with current studies that consider palladium as the main element of traffic-related pollution. Overall, the leaves of Phragmites australis reflected the different gradient of PGEs emissions, and may thus be considered as potential biomonitors of atmospheric pollution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Longo 19, 95125 Catania, Italy. Electronic address: bonanno.giuseppe@unict.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bonanno
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Longo 19, 95125 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pavone
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010165:Palladium / Q000032:analysis*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D010984:Platinum / Q000032:analysis*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D012238:Rhodium / Q000032:analysis*; D012802:Sicily
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D010984:Platinum; D010165:Palladium; D012238:Rhodium
keywords: Atmospheric pollution; Biomonitoring; Italy; Phragmites australis; Platinum Group Elements; Urban areas