Using pine needles as a bio-sampler of atmospheric contamination is a relatively cheap and easy method, particularly for remote sites. Therefore, pine needles have been used to monitor a range of semi-volatile contaminants in the air. In the present study, pine needles were used to monitor polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the air at sites with different land use types in Sweden (SW), Czech Republic (CZ), and Slovakia (SK). Spatiotemporal patterns in levels and congener profiles were investigated. Multivariate analysis was used to aid source identification. A comparison was also made between the profile of indicator PCBs (ind-PCBs-PCBs 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, and 180) in pine needles and those in active and passive air samplers. Concentrations in pine needles were 220-5100 ng kg(-1) (∑18PCBs - ind-PCBs and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs)) and 0.045-1.7 ng toxic equivalent (TEQ) kg(-1) (dry weight (dw)). Thermal sources (e.g., waste incineration) were identified as important sources of PCBs in pine needles. Comparison of profiles in pine needles to active and passive air samplers showed a lesser contribution of lower molecular weight PCBs 28 and 52, as well as a greater contribution of higher molecular weight PCBs (e.g., 180) in pine needles. The dissimilarities in congener profiles were attributed to faster degradation of lower chlorinated congeners from the leaf surface or metabolism by the plant.

• Klíčová slova
• Active and passive samplers, Atmospheric pollution, Bio-sampler, Europe, Pine needle, Polychlorinated biphenyls, Sources, Spatial and temporal distribution,
• MeSH
• borovice lesní chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• dioxiny chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• listy rostlin chemie   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• polychlorované dibenzodioxiny chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• spalování odpadů MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH
• Názvy látek
• dioxiny MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly MeSH
• polychlorované dibenzodioxiny MeSH