title: Organic Pollutant Penetration through Fruit Polyester Skin: A Modified Three-compartment Diffusion Model.
abstract: The surface of plants is covered by a continuous but heterogeneous cuticular membrane (CM). Serving as the first protective barrier, the uptake and transport behavior of organic pollutants at this interface continue to engage the research efforts of environmental chemist. To date, the contributions of cuticular components as a defense against the organic pollutants penetration remain unresolved. In this study, the unsteady-state penetration characteristics of phenanthrene (PHE) through isolated fruit CM was investigated. PHE penetration was differentiated by three cuticular compartments: epicuticular waxes (EW), cuticle proper (CP) and cuticular layer (CL). The driving force for PHE penetration was ascribed to the sharp concentration gradient built up endogenously by cuticular compartments with different lipophilic affinities. A modified penetration model was established and verified in terms of its general suitability for the hydrophobic chemicals and CMs of various plant species (apple, tomato and potato). The new three-compartment model demonstrates much higher accuracy in characterizing the uptake and transport behavior of semivolatile chemicals with fewer limitations in terms of environmental conditions and complexity (e.g., coexisting contaminants and temperature). This model could contribute to a more comprehensive understanding on the role of polymeric lipids in the organic pollutant sorption and transport into plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.|key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle, Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China.
authors.forename: Yungui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.|Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Qingqing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.|Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Baoliang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000032:analysis*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D014885:Waxes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D008055:Lipids; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D014885:Waxes; C031181:phenanthrene