Decrease in Air Pollution Load in Urban Environment of Bratislava (Slovakia) Inferred from Accumulation of Metal Elements in Lichens

Overview

Journal Environ Monit Assess

Publisher Springer

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 2011 Feb 18

PMID 21327486

Citations 5

Authors

Anna Guttova

Anna Lackovicova

Ivan Pisut

Peter Pisut

Affiliations

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Abstract

The study illustrates the response of epiphytic lichens to changing atmospheric conditions in Central Europe, where the emission of air pollutants has significantly decreased from 1990, in the area in and around Bratislava City. Variation in concentrations of seven metal elements (Cu, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the thalli of Evernia prunastri, Hypogymnia physodes and Parmelia sulcata is assessed. Samples of these species were exposed in lichen bags in 39 sites throughout the territory of the city (more than 300 km(2)) during the period December 2006-February 2007. The samples were analyzed by AAS for metal element contents prior to and after exposure. The decrease in air pollution (for all studied elements by more than 90%) corresponded to a decrease in the accumulation of elements in lichen thalli, e.g. the contents of Pb decreased by 69% and of Cd by 34% on average. The results show also variations in accumulation between with different lichen species. The background values of metal element contents in thalli of H. physodes growing in situ were measured in semi-natural sites in Slovakia. It is suggested that these can be used as a reference in large-scale monitoring studies in Central Europe. Analysis of compatible data from the current study, and the study performed at the end of 1990s shows a significant decrease of metal elements in the air pollution load.

Citing Articles

Goes to School: Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals and Photosynthetic Performance in Lichen Transplants Exposed Indoors and Outdoors in Public and Private Environments.

Paoli L, Fackovcova Z, Guttova A, Maccelli C, Kresanova K, Loppi S Plants (Basel). 2019; 8(5).

PMID: 31086106 PMC: 6571755. DOI: 10.3390/plants8050125.

Biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution: a novel approach for the evaluation of natural and anthropogenic contribution to atmospheric aerosol particles.

Caggiano R, Calamita G, Sabia S, Trippetta S Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2017; 24(9):8578-8587.

PMID: 28194674 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-8534-3.

Biomonitoring urban air pollution using transplanted lichens: element concentrations across seasons.

Malaspina P, Tixi S, Brunialti G, Frati L, Paoli L, Giordani P Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2014; 21(22):12836-42.

PMID: 24969430 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3222-z.

Cryptogamic community structure as a bioindicator of soil condition along a pollution gradient.

Rola K, Osyczka P Environ Monit Assess. 2014; 186(9):5897-910.

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Response of the lichen Cladonia rei Schaer. to strong heavy metal contamination of the substrate.

Osyczka P, Rola K Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2013; 20(7):5076-84.

PMID: 23589242 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-1645-6.

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