Dendrochemical investigation on hexachlorohexane isomers (HCHs) in poplars by integrated study of micro-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and gas chromatography

Abstract

A combined Micro-FTIRS and GC analysis revealed that poplars grown under natural field conditions can accumulate HCHs in their wood when growing in contaminated areas. Abstract: Micro-Fourier Transform Infrared (micro-FTIR) spectroscopy was used to evaluate possible contaminations from hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs) in poplar tree-rings growing near a river polluted by HCHs (Sacco River, Latium, Italy). Conventional gas chromatographic analyses (GC–ECD and GC–MS) carried out on the same samples confirmed the micro-FTIR data and showed a high level of contamination by HCHs (mainly β-HCH) in wood core samples from poplars growing near the Sacco River. Even if the micro-FTIR cannot be considered as an alternative technique to the gas chromatographic analysis, it would permit to carry out a faster and cheaper screening of tree-rings. The proposed dendrochemical approach may have applications for rapid detection and delineation of HCHs pollution in environmental monitoring programs as well as in forensic assessments (phytoforensics). Since fast growing trees like poplars are used in bioremediation programs, the accumulation of HCHs in the wood of trees from contaminated areas opens new technical questions on the safety of their use for round-wood, biomass or bioenergy production.