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Pollen Viability for Air Pollution Bio-Monitoring

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Abstract

Biological characterization of Corylus avellana L. and Pinus nigra L. pollen samples was carried out to determine the actual value of pollen as a bio-indicator of the effects of atmospheric pollution, using samples from plants naturally developed in sites controlled for air pollution. In Trentino (North Italy), we selected six stations at three different levels of air pollution, which are constantly monitored with automatic gauges by the Environmental Protection Agency of Trento.

First results showed that pollen viability of both species, germinability and pollen tube length of P. nigra, were higher in areas with no road traffic compared to heavy traffic ones. Pollen viability of P. nigra was positively correlated to ozone (O3) concentrations and altitude but negatively to sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 μ m (PM10), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto Agrario di San Michele all’Adige, Via Mach 2, 38010 S. Michele a/A, Trento, Italy

    Elena Gottardini & Fabiana Cristofolini

  2. Istituto Protezione Piante, CNR, Piazzale delle Cascine 28, Firenze, Italy

    Elena Paoletti

  3. Istituto Trentino di Cultura – ITC-Irst, via Sommarive 18, 38050, Povo, Trento, Italy

    Paolo Lazzeri & Giancarlo Pepponi

Authors
  1. Elena Gottardini
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  2. Fabiana Cristofolini
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  3. Elena Paoletti
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  4. Paolo Lazzeri
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  5. Giancarlo Pepponi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elena Gottardini.

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Gottardini, E., Cristofolini, F., Paoletti, E. et al. Pollen Viability for Air Pollution Bio-Monitoring. J Atmos Chem 49, 149–159 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-004-1221-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-004-1221-z

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