title: Gaseous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations are higher in urban forests than adjacent open areas during summer but not in winter--Exploratory study.
abstract: While the potential of plants to uptake polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is widely acknowledged, empirical evidence of the effects of this process on local atmospheric PAH concentrations and human health is tenuous. We measured gaseous PAH concentrations using passive samplers in urban tree-covered areas and adjacent open, treeless areas in a near-road environment in Finland to gain information on the ability of urban vegetation to improve air quality. The ability of urban, mostly deciduous, vegetation to affect PAHs was season dependent: during summer, concentrations were significantly higher in tree-covered areas, while in the fall, concentrations in open areas exceeded those in tree-covered areas. During winter, concentrations in tree-covered areas were either lower or did not differ from those in open areas. Results of this study imply that the commonly believed notion that trees unequivocally improve air quality does not apply to PAHs studied here.
authors.affiliation: University of Helsinki, Department of Environmental Sciences, Niemenkatu 73, FI-15140, Lahti, Finland. Electronic address: viljami.viippola@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Viljami
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Viippola
authors.affiliation: University of Helsinki, Department of Environmental Sciences, Niemenkatu 73, FI-15140, Lahti, Finland. Electronic address: anna-lea.rantalainen@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Anna-Lea
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rantalainen
authors.affiliation: University of Helsinki, Department of Environmental Sciences, P.O. Box 65, FI-00014, University of Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: vesa.yli-pelkonen@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Vesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yli-Pelkonen
authors.affiliation: University of Helsinki, Department of Environmental Sciences, Niemenkatu 73, FI-15140, Lahti, Finland.
authors.forename: Peatta
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tervo
authors.affiliation: University of Helsinki, Department of Environmental Sciences, Niemenkatu 73, FI-15140, Lahti, Finland. Electronic address: heikki.setala@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Setälä
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005387:Finland; D065928:Forests; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D012621:Seasons; D014197:Trees / Q000254:growth & development*; D014507:Urbanization
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D005740:Gases; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
keywords: Ecosystem service; PAH; Passive sampler; Urban forest; Urban vegetation