Can Abies alba Needles Be Used as Bio-passive Samplers to Assess Air Quality?

Bio-passive samplers have proved to be good alternate assess air quality in regions where the use of active is not technically feasible. Here, we tested potential for Abies alba (silver fir) needles used as reliable bio-passive samplers. As these evergreen coniferous trees do lose their winter are representative a full year period. Needle samples were collected 2013 from 20 different locations within Holy Cross National Park (Świetokrzyski Narodowy, Voivodship, Poland). Both and aerosols deposited on surfaces analyzed δ13C. Additionally, total carbon (TC), elemental (EC) organic (OC) determined only surface-impacted using thermo-optical method. The overall objective our study was evaluate possibility distinguish bio-organic (crushed needles) anthropogenically derived aerosols. highest aerosol mass concentration (4.6 ± 2.4 mg g-1) observed with longest exposure time, while shortest times yielded lowest ones (1.7 0.7 g-1). Aerosols that enriched 13C, indicating impact human activities, located close inhabited areas, at highly elevated points places situated outside park. Our results also prove one-year-old most isotope bioindicators. We ultimately recommend can future monitoring programs, especially since this method low cost easy implement.