Accumulation of Heavy Metals from Motor Vehicles in Transplanted Lichens in an Urban Area

Abstract Thalli of the lichens Pseudevernia furfuracea, Usnea longissima, Lobaria pulmonaria, and Peltigera praetextata were taken from unpolluted areas and transplanted to a downtown site in Erzurum, Turkey. Heavy metals copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe) were measured after an 8 month exposure period. Changes in the heavy metal concentrations were observed during the exposure period in lichen species and in both locations. Heavy metal concentrations were significantly higher in Peltigera praetextata than the other species at the location nearest to the junction crossroads. Peltigera praetextata may be considered a good indicator. These results can be attributed to the effect of atmospheric pollutants on the transplanted lichens.

[1]  J. Raba.  Liquen Usnea densirostra como bioindicador de metales pesados. Determinación por ICP-AES acoplado con nebulizador ultrasónico Heavy metals determination by ICP-AES coupled with ultrasonic nebulization using the lichen Usnea densirostra (T ayl.) as biomonitor pollution in San Luis, Argentina , 2017 .

[2]  M. Gadgil,et al.  Distribution pattern and heavy metal accumulation in lichens of Bangalore city with special reference to Lalbagh garden , 2003 .

[3]  Douglas Ladd,et al.  Lichens of North America , 2002, Brittonia.

[4]  J. Monge-Nájera,et al.  A new method to assess air pollution using lichens as bioindicators. , 2002, Revista de biologia tropical.

[5]  M. L. Pignata,et al.  Chemical response of the lichens Parmotrema austrosinense and P. conferendum transplanted to urban and non-polluted environments , 1997 .

[6]  A. Aslan,et al.  Distribution of Epiphytic Lichens and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) Pollution in the City of Bursa , 1997, Turkish Journal of Botany.

[7]  J. Bennett,et al.  Element concentrations in the lichen Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. after 3 years of transplanting along Lake Michigan , 1996 .

[8]  J. Garty,et al.  Accumulation of airborne elements from vehicles in transplanted lichens in urban sites , 1996 .

[9]  O. W. Purvis.  The Lichen Flora of Great Britain and Ireland , 1993 .

[10]  D. Hawksworth,et al.  Air Pollution and Lichens , 1974 .

[11]  Awwa,et al.  Standard Methods for the examination of water and wastewater , 1999 .

[12]  V. Wirth,et al.  Die Flechten Baden-Württembergs , 1995 .

[13]  A. E. Greenberg,et al.  Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater : supplement to the sixteenth edition , 1988 .