Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Leaf and Bark Samples of Sambucus nigra Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Fausto Viteri; Nazly E. Sánchez; Katiuska Alexandrino

doi:10.3390/mps6010017

Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Leaf and Bark Samples of Sambucus nigra Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Journal

Methods and Protocols

ISSN

2409-9279

Date Issued

2023-02-08

Author(s)

Fausto Viteri

Facultad de Ciencias de la Ingeniería e Industrias

Nazly E. Sánchez

Katiuska Alexandrino

DOI

10.3390/mps6010017

URL

https://cris.ute.edu.ec/handle/123456789/420

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous organic compounds coming from natural or anthropogenic activities. Tree organs such as leaves and barks have been used to monitor urban air quality and have achieved remarkable ecological importance. However, the potential of many tree species as biomonitors is still unknown and efforts should be focused on conducting studies that analyze their capabilities with a viable analytical method. In this work, an analytical method for quantification of the 16 EPA priority PAHs from the leaves and bark of Sambucus nigra was validated. In general, the method showed good linearity, detection limits, precision, and recoveries, demonstrating that it is suitable for analyzing PAHs in both the leaves and bark of the Sambucus nigra species for which no analytical method for PAHs is yet available. The high prevalence of fluoranthene in the samples, which is a PAH related to coal combustion and biomass burning, and benzo[a]pyrene, which has a carcinogenic effect, was identified.