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

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Abstract

We investigated the bioaccumulation of selected trace elements in samples of the lichen Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. transplanted across two seasons in the urban area of Genoa (NW Italy), which is heavily affected by traffic and industrial pollution. Total concentration of most elements did not exhibit differences between seasons, exceptions being Al and Na, higher in summer, and As, Cd, and Ti, higher in winter. Differences emerged in the initial concentrations of some elements in control samples, and this was accounted for by the use of exposed-to-control (EC) ratios, which allowed interpretation of changes in element concentrations. The study area resulted highly polluted, likely by particulate matter, as suggested also by the higher concentrations of airborne PM10 during winter months. Bioaccumulation of particulate matter seems to be affected by differences in rainfall regimes across seasons, since element solubilization and leaching due to precipitation may vary considerably.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botanic Centre Hanbury, DISTAV, University of Genoa, Corso Dogali 1 M, 16136, Genova, Italy

    Paola Malaspina, Sara Tixi, Paolo Giordani & Paolo Modenesi

  2. TerraData environmetrics, Siena, Italy

    Giorgio Brunialti & Luisa Frati

  3. Department of Environmental Science, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Luca Paoli & Stefano Loppi

Authors
  1. Paola Malaspina
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  2. Sara Tixi
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  3. Giorgio Brunialti
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  4. Luisa Frati
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  5. Luca Paoli
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  6. Paolo Giordani
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  7. Paolo Modenesi
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  8. Stefano Loppi
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Correspondence to Paola Malaspina.

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Responsible editor: Gerhard Lammel

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Malaspina, P., Tixi, S., Brunialti, G. et al. Biomonitoring urban air pollution using transplanted lichens: element concentrations across seasons. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 12836–12842 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3222-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3222-z

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