Feasibility of poplar foliages as bio-monitors for organochlorine pesticides in air

The feasibility of poplar (P. tomentosa) foliages as passive biomonitors for organochlorine pesticides in air was explored. The accumulation patterns of poplar foliages for HCHs, DDTs and HCB were similar, the amount of HCHs, DDTs and HCB increased with foliage growth in spring, and decreased thereafter. There was no obvious distinction in the accumulation styles between the adult leaf and the leaf-litter. This accumulation pattern is likely related to the growing process of the poplar foliage, and was observed for the first time in our work, giving an evidence for the “bud burst effect” in plants. The technical HCH and DDT were used largely in history and not used in recent years, but there was a little usage of lindane and new input of o,p’-DDT in recent years, and dicofol usage may be the main source of o,p’-DDT. Concentrations of HCHs, DDTs and HCB in poplar foliages were similar to those in pine needles at the corresponding period, and there is a positive strong correlation between OCP concentration data of two kinds of trees. It presents no difference in the accumulation style between two kinds of trees. The level of OCPs in the poplar foliage reflected the pollution status of OCPs in air. The result of this work showed that the poplar foliage can be used as the bio-monitor of OCPs in air. Supported by the State Key Development Program for Basic Research of China (Grant No. 2003CB415003)