Atmospheric heavy metal pollution in Slovenia derived from results for epiphytic lichens

Abstract

In 1992, a monitoring survey has been started on the national scale in Slovenia using the epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. The primary aim has been to analyse lichens using the k₀-based INAA method to obtain information about the levels of elements in the atmosphere and to identify significant pollution sources. Monte Carlo-Assisted Factor Analysis was applied to a data set of the 28 elements As, Ag, Ba, Br, Ce, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Ga, Hf, Hg, K, La, Mo, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Sm, Tb, Th, U, W and Zn, which have been selected from the elements determined as the most important ones for the identification of pollution sources. A Monte Carlo approach has been used to give more insight into the uncertainties and significance levels of the factor analysis results. It has been found that concentration patterns in lichens yielded 9 factors (source types) which are presented and discussed in detail. The geographical patterns of the contributions of all factors are also shown.