Effects of exhaust gas on zucchini vegetable

This study was carried out in the experimental greenhouse that set up in Bursa Uludag University. In two greenhouses, which are called as the control group and the experimental group, zucchinies were grown. While the experimental group greenhouse was regularly exposed to exhaust gas for a certain period of time, no intervention was made to the control group. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured both in greenhouse air and the grown Zucchinies. The study was conducted in May-June-July-August-September-October and November 2017. For the sampling process, the fruits of the Zucchini were grated, mixed and analyzed 10 g of this mixture. For the analysis of the samples, QuEChERS method was used which means fast, easy, inexpensive, effective, robust and safe, and commonly used in the determination of permanent organics in food products. The collected samples were analyzed in Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) by using appropriate extraction and cleaning steps and concentrations of 16 PAH compounds which are in the list of priority pollutants of the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) were determined. The data obtained from zucchinies and greenhouse air samples collected in experimental and control group were evaluated. The average PAH value in the experimental group (which was exposed to exhaust gas) collected from the 1st rows closest to the point given to the exhaust gas was 191.47 ng / g. L-PAHs (Low molecular weight) and H-PAHs (high molecular weight) were calculated as 186.66 ng / g and 4.89 ng/g. The average PAH concentrations in the 3rd row samples were 126.68 ng / g. L-PAHs and H-PAHs were 125.77 ng / g and 0.91 ng / g, respectively. The average PAH concentrations in the 5th row samples were 149,38 ng / g. L-PAHs and H-PAHs were calculated as 141.09 ng/g and 8.30 ng/g, respectively. In the control group of zucchinies, the mean concentration was 124.78 ng / g. In addition, a significant relationship was found between PAH concentrations measured in indoor air and PAH concentrations measured in pumpkin in both control and experimental groups. It was determined that the PAH levels measured within the body in proportion to PAH exposure of the squash vegetables increased, but this amount showed a decreasing tendency in the squash growing sufficiently. It has been observed that exhaust gas has a negative effect on plant growth.