Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and metals in scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) needles from Eastern and Northern Europe: Spatiotemporal patterns, and potential sources

Abstract Pine needles were sampled to determine levels of polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and metals in Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ) needles at industrial, urban and background sites in Sweden (SW), Czech Republic (CZ) and Slovakia (SK). Spatial and temporal patterns of PCDD/Fs in pine needles were investigated and principal component analysis (PCA) used to determine spatial patterns, potential sources and transport of PCDD/Fs. Levels of PCDD/Fs in pine needles were generally greatest near to industrial sites (Ʃ2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs (lower bound (LB)): 6 ng kg −1 – 190 ng kg −1 ) compared to urban and background sites (Ʃ2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs (LB): 0.90 ng kg −1 – 20 ng kg −1 ). Using metal contamination in pine needles helped to detect spatial patterns and separate local thermal sources of PCDD/Fs.