The epicuticular wax of Laurus nobilis leaves as a passive sampler of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air

Leaves of Laurus nobilis have been recently proposed as passive samplers of PAHs in ambient air. Since 4- and 5-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) do accumulate in the epicuticular wax layer, an analytical protocol based on the extraction of intact leaves with dichloromethane is reported, followed by separation of PAHs from wax by partitioning them in the nitromethane-n-hexane biphasic system, and HPLC analysis. Preliminary results of an air monitoring program of an industrial and an urban area in Ravenna are presented.