The potential of Hedera helix L. stems and leaves for atmospheric pyrene phytomonitoring

The aim of this work was to investigate the phytomonitoring potentials of Hedera helix L. from the Bor`s municipality concerning (atmospheric) Pyrene as a well-known hazardous substance. The results of gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of the unwashed stems and leaves showed that Pyrene concentrations obviously varied at all selected rural and urban/industrial zones (RZ and UIZ). These first signs of various sources of Pyrene in the investigated area were later supported by the results of the performed Pearson’s correlation analysis, which showed that the detected Pyrene concentrations came not only from the vicinal heating and smelting plants, as the main sources of pollution in the whole region but also from the domestic heating in RZ, or forest fires, or controlled fires in the cultivated fields, and finally from the traffic in all zones. The correlation analysis also signalized that at some locations, the detected concentrations (especially in stems) came not only from the atmosphere but also from the soil. The calculated factor R confirmed the sites with the greatest atmospheric impact. Very high R values were calculated for 3 sites (two in UIZ and one in RZ) with the highest value of 1.61. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that the investigated stems and leaves, with the applied chemical and statistical analyses, and the calculation of R factor, can serve as a useful tool in the atmospheric Pyrene phytomonitoring.