Calibration of Four Species of Tillandsia as Air Pollution Biomonitors

Many organisms have been used as bioindicators of atmospheric contamination, with moss and lichen species being the most common. However, studies using epiphytic vascular species of Tillandsia have shown a good correlation between the presence of pollutants and the bioindicator's response. Therefore, the aim of our investigation was to calibrate and compare the response of four Tillandsia species of Argentina to ascertain whether they could be used as atmospheric contamination biomonitors. For this, we analysed the correlation between the levels of heavy metals in total atmospheric deposition samples and: a) their rate of enrichment; b) the physiological response of the plant samples. Tillandsia samples collected from a non contaminated area in the province of Córdoba were transplanted to four areas in the capital city with different sources of pollution (industrial or traffic emissions). They were exposed for a period of 3 to 6 months after which the concentrations of Pb, Ni, Fe, Zn, Cu and S as well as the physiological parameters of foliar damage were determined. Simultaneously samples of total atmospheric deposition were also taken.The highest level of metal enrichment was found in T. capillaris followed by T. tricholepis, T. permutata and T. retorta. Also, the use of a foliar damage index proved to be effective and could be a useful tool to evaluate different levels of atmospheric quality in these species. The rate of heavy metal deposition was higher in the industrial area for all metals except for Zn whose values were higher in areas with high levels of traffic.     

Trace Metals in Mosses in the Estonian Oil Shale Processing Region

Electric energy production and most heavy industry in Estonia are concentrated in the north-eastern part of the country. Thermoelectric power plants (total maximal capacity over 3 GW), cement and chemical industries are fueled by Kukersite oil shale, mined nearby. The mineral part of oil shale is rich in trace metals that can accumulate in the local ecosystem. Samples of epigeic mosses Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens were taken in 1992, 1997 and 2002 from sites 1 km to 30 km from the main air pollution sources and analysed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, V and Zn. For background data collection, analogous measurements within the national monitoring programme were used. Raster maps of concentrations were generated from the measurements, using the Kriging algorithm. These maps were compared with the model-estimated (AEROPOL model) maps of fly ash and cement dust deposit from the past. The concentration of trace metals in mosses is highly (Cr, Fe, Ni, V) or moderately (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) affected by the airborne emissions of the oil shale industry. During the past decade the uptake of the first group of elements in the industrial zone has decreased 3–4 times in proportion to emissions.     

南京江北地区菜地土壤重金属污染特征及评价

在南京市浦口和大厂的五大主要功能区（工业区、交通干线、居民区、蔬菜生产基地和风景区）分别布置采样点,共采集了75个菜地耕层土壤样品,以Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn等典型污染重金属元素的全量数据为基础,运用经典统计分析、综合污染指数和地统计分析相结合的方法对土壤重金属污染进行评价。结果表明,Cd、Cu和Zn分别超出其南京地区土壤背景值的5．42、1．84和1．14倍,Pb未超出。不同功能区菜地土壤的重金属全量水平存在明显差异,其中工业区菜地土壤的重金属污染较为严重。对于Cd和Cu,单因子污染指数大于1的样点数达100％,Zn为52％,Pb为2．67％。研究区内菜地土壤重金属的综合污染指数为4．12,属于中度污染。Cu的空间相关性很弱,Cd、Pb和Zn具有中等的空间结构性;四种重金属的空间相关尺度较为接近。Cd、Cu和Zn的单因子污染指数具有相似的空间分布,总体呈现出南高北低的带状递减趋势,且高峰值具有空间分布的趋同性,而Pb的单因子污染指数分布呈现西北和东南两端高,中间较低的趋势。综合污染指数的空间分布显示,研究区大部分菜地土壤处于中度重金属污染水平,钢铁生产厂周边的斑块状区域重金属污染更加严重。     

Polyamine Production in Lichens Under Metal Pollution Stress

In the present study, thalli of the lichen species Pseudevernia furfuracea Zopf. and Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach. transplanted around an oil-fired power station. Following an exposure of 4 months, trace element concentrations (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) and polyamine (PA) content [putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm)] of thalli were measured to study the polyamines production in lichens under metal pollution stress. The polyamine production was not significantly different for the two species but two types of statistically significant relationships were revealed between polyamines production and metals concentration in lichen thalli: a positive linear relationship for the pairs total PAs–Cd (P. furfuracea), total PAs–Cu (E. prunastri), Put–Pb (E. prunastri), Spm–Pb (E. prunastri) and a second-order polynomial relationship for the pairs Put–Cd (P. furfuracea), Spm–Cr (E. prunastri) and total PAs–V (E. prunastri). A possible involvement of polyamines in metal pollution stress response of lichens is discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurozium schreberi</Emphasis> of the Tatra mountains (Poland) used as a bioindicational system for observing long range atmospheric transport of chemical elements

Concentrations of the elements Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, V and Zn were measured in the moss Pleurozium schreberi from the Tatra National Park, one of the most protected regions in Poland. The moss samples were collected at different elevations between 860 and 2220 m a.s.l. P. schreberi was used as bioindicator for long range transported atmospheric pollution investigating the hypothesis that elevation influences the concentrations of elements in this moss. Principal component and classification analysis (PCCA) distinguished between mosses from the highest and the lowest elevations and mosses from West/East oriented valleys. P. schreberi from the highest elevations contained the highest concentrations of Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Pb, V and Zn. P. schreberi from the lowest elevation contained the highest concentration of K. P. schreberi from West/East oriented valleys contained the highest concentrations of Ni and Co. P. schreberi from the Tatra National Park, one of the most protected areas in Poland, receives metals originating from long distance aerial transport.     

Biomonitoring of heavy metals by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudevernia furfuracea</Emphasis> (L.) Zopf in Ankara (Turkey)

The objective of this study was to determine the air pollution level of Ankara and to generate the air pollution map of this city by using Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf as a biomonitor. Lichen samples were collected from unpolluted area at Yaprakli Mountains, Cankiri in November 2002 and transplanted to 27 localities in Ankara. Lichen samples were retrieved following an exposure of 3 and 6 months. Heavy metal, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, contents were determined by using inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP). The chlorophyll a and b contents were determined by using DMSO method. The increase in Ni, Pb, Zn and chlorophyll a content of the specimens were statistically important. All the increases and decreases in the variables could be explained by the environmental stress like pollution, but it is hard to say that this is the only reason of these changes, also climatic conditions, seasons, strength of the light and the physiological status of the plant itself effective on these changes. According to the results of heavy metal analysis Pseudevernia furfuracea continued to accumulate heavy metals and worked well as a biomonitor. The air pollution level of Ankara shows great variations because of the great area of the city.     

北京秋季大风条件下大气气溶胶的尺度谱分布特征

Atmospheric aerosol samples collected in Beijing during 17-21 September 2004 were analyzed using the proton-induced X-ray emissions (PIXE) method, yielding concentrations of 20 elements. Analyzing the aerosol element size-spectrum distribution, enrichment factor (EF) and source over Beijing showed that under strong wind weather conditions, there were double peak distributions in the element size-spectra of Cu, S, K, Mn, As, Br, and Pb: one in fine mode and another in coarse mode. The peak in fine mode resulted from local emissions related to human activities, while the peak in coarse mode was caused by long range transport. The EF values of elements Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, and Pb were relatively high, suggesting an evident characteristic polluted by regional aerosol. Results from factor analysis indicated that soil dust, coal-burning, industry and vehicle emissions contributed considerably to the autumn aerosol pollution in Beijing.     

Heavy Metal Accumulation in the Lichen Evernia prunastri Transplanted at Urban, Rural and Industrial Sites in Central Italy

The lichen Evernia prunastri has been employed for biomonitoring the atmospheric deposition of heavy metals at urban, rural and industrial sites in Central Italy. Lichen samples have been collected in a control site 1500 m a. s. l. (Parco Nazionale dAbruzzo, Central Italy) and subsequently transplanted at urban site (Cassino city center), at rural location 7 km away from Cassino (S. Elia Fiumerapido) and at industrial location (Piedimonte S. Germano) surrounding an automobile factory. Once defined the surface of impact relevant to this work, the lichen samples were transplanted at the four cardinal points of each site. Studies of bioaccumulation of Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn in lichen samples were performed five times at regular intervals between November 2000–December 2001. Microwave digestion of the samples and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry were employed for the heavy metal determinations. Suitable certified reference materials (CRM) were used for validation of the analytical methodology. Results showed the ability of Evernia prunastri to accumulate the heavy metals under study. As expected, the area chosen as control site showed significantly (Friedman test, cluster analysis) lower impact in comparison to the other sites and the rural site showed smaller impact than the urban and the industrial sites.     

Spatial trends in heavy metals and nitrogen deposition in Navarra (Northern Spain) based on moss analysis

A biomonitoring survey using the moss species Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. was performed in the North of Navarra (Spain) in 2006. The levels of V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Zr, Cd, Hg and Pb, and the total nitrogen content were determined in the samples by means of ICP-MS, CV-AA, and the Kjeldahl method. PCA analysis showed a differentiation between lithogenic (V, Cr, Mn, Ni, As and Zr) and anthropogenic elements (Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb). Spatial distribution maps were drawn using the kriging method, in order to identify the most affected areas and the main pollution sources. A similar spatial distribution was observed for the elements belonging to each group separated by the PCA, showing an important contribution from metal industries located in the Basque Country, as well as influence of long-range transboundary pollution processes. Background levels were also determined for the study area, along with the contamination factor for the different elements analysed. Mosses seemed to be good biomonitors of N deposition in areas of accumulation.     

油松和侧柏常绿树种对典型污染物的吸滞与富集作用

以城市森林生态系统常绿树种为对象,测定了油松（Pinus tabuliformis）和侧柏（Platycladus orientalis）叶片对大气污染物（SO₂、Cl₂）和土壤重金属污染物（Cu、Zn、As、Hg和Pb、Cd和Cr）的吸滞作用与富集作用。结果表明：油松和侧柏具有较强吸滞污染物的作用,对污染物的吸滞能力受环境污染程度、不同生长季节的污染元素种类等因素的影响。其中,油松在秋季对S、Cu、Zn、Pb和Hg具有较高的吸附能力,针叶中S、Cu、Zn、Pb和Hg含量平均值分别为2158.75、6.31、31.46、4.05 mg·kg-1和0.08 mg·kg-1;侧柏在秋季对Cu、Zn、Hg和Cd具有较高的吸附能力,叶片中Cu、Zn、Hg、Cd含量平均值分别为4.47、22.47、0.09 mg·kg-1和0.20 mg·kg-1;在不同立地条件下,油松和侧柏对污染物的吸滞与富集量有所差异,其中在土壤污染较重的石景山松林园样地,油松对大气污染物SO₂有较强的吸附能力,侧柏则表现出对Cl₂有较强的吸附能力。对重金属污染物而言,油松和侧柏对Cu、Pb、Cr和As有较高的富集作用。     

Biomonitoring of Trace Metals by Different species of Lichens (Parmelia) in North-West Italy

The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn were measured in four different species of lichens (Parmelia caperata, P. pastillifera, P. saxatilis, P. sulcata) sampled in North-West Italy, in order to obtain maps showing metal distribution and the degree of deviation from background (natural) conditions. Significant differences among the species were found for Zn, Mn, Pb and V, suggesting that the combined use of mixed species in biomonitoring surveys can affect the interpretation of results. Results obtained for Parmelia caperata samples have been compared with background (natural) levels, and maps showing the distribution of each metal expressed as deviation from background levels have been obtained. Overall such maps show a medium to high alteration degree in the study area.     

Could Ornamental Plants Serve as Passive Biomonitors in Urban Areas?

A search for cheap and efficient method to monitor atmospheric particulates in city centres has raised new interest to measure foliar element concentrations after the role of particulate pollution for respiratory illnesses was discovered. Leaf samples of Golden dewdrop (Duranta repens L.) collected in Palermo (South of Italy) between 1998 and 2000 were analysed to study the possible use of this shrub as a passive biomonitor for atmospheric pollution in urban areas. Concentrations of Ba, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb and Zn were determined from leaf samples collected from six sampling sites representing either (a) areas of high traffic density or (b) areas not directly affected by the city traffic (e.g. gardens). Most of the elements showed a significant temporal variation but no consistent trends could be seen, i.e. the highest (or lowest) values were not detected consistently at some particular time of the year. Furthermore temporal changes were of same magnitude in polluted versus less polluted areas; no statistically significant interaction between pollution level and collection period was detected. Pollution level (traffic density) was the primary factor to explain spatial variation only in the case of foliar Mg concentrations. On the other hand, variation in foliar concentrations between sampling sites (irrespective of the pollution level) was large. Our results suggest that particulate deposition needs to be quite high before spatial segregation can be done on the basis of foliar element concentrations.     

Lichen as quantitative biomonitors of atmospheric heavy metals deposition in Central India

Three different growth forms of lichens belonging to six species; Phaeophyscia hispidula, Parmotrema praesorediosum (foliose); Caloplaca subsoluta, Diploschistes candidissmus (crustose) and Peltula euploca, Phylliscum indicum (squamulose) were studied comparatively for the biomonitoring of Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni and Zn in Mandav city in central India. Based on the anthropogenic activities three sites were selected for lichen collection. To identify the sources of heavy metal pollution, their concentration was analyzed in thallus as well as in their respective substrates. The thallus of studied lichens showed higher concentration of metals such as Cd, Cr, Ni and Zn, while most of the metals were absent or present in negligible amount in substrates (Fe, Al, Cu), which proves that the accumulated metals were air borne. The foliose lichens (P. hispidula and P. praesorediosum) found highly significant in metal accumulation at each sites followed by crustose and squamulose forms. Lichen samples collected from site 2, adjacent to road side accumulated maximum quantities of Zn, Ni, Cd and Cr whereas the city centre (Site 1) had maximum concentrations of Fe, Cu and Al. The site 3 situated away from the city had lowest amount of all the metals. The analysis of variance and LSD indicated that the metal concentrations among lichen species as well as between substratum is significant at p < 0.05% and P < 0.01% level respectively.     

Continental origin and industrial sources of trace metals in the Northwest Atlantic troposphere

Trace metals (Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and stable lead isotopes) have been analyzed in precipitation and total aerosols collected in the northwest Atlantic troposphere in April and November 1989. According to stable lead isotope signatures we encountered two main air mass sources, Mediterranean easterlies (206Pb/207Pb=1.131) and US westerlies (206Pb/207Pb=1.195–1.205). The phasing out of leaded gasoline has been invoked to explain the decrease of the 206Pb/207Pb ratios from 1.22 to 1.20 for the past 10 years in North America. Based on trajectory analyses, intermediate 206Pb/207Pb ratios are explained by a mixing of pure US westerlies with Canadian air masses (206Pb/207Pb=1.190–1.195) or Mediterranean air masses (206Pb/207Pb=1.18–1.19). Isentropic trajectories are very useful in explaining the variability of trace metal concentrations, a result of the fluctuating transport range of anthropogenic aerosols to remote marine areas of the North Atlantic. Lead concentrations appear to be closely correlated to the air mass transport patterns as defined from the meteorological analyses. For instance oceanic air masses transported over remote marine areas for more than three days were characterized by lead concentrations 2 to 10 times lower (Pb=0.5 to 2 ng/scm) than coastal air masses (Pb=3 to 10 ng/scm).Anthropogenic trace metal concentrations are generally in good agreement with the air mass signatures which display Pb and Cu, Ni, Zn concentrations higher than 2 and 10 ng/scm respectively in aerosol samples for the US source. Trace metal elemental ratios and soil enrichment factors were used to define industrial sources. Aerosol originating from the US exhibits the distinct industrial signature of Cu/Ni production and coal-oil combustion, while steel metallurgy could account for more than 50% of the overall Mn input into the Northwest Atlantic ocean.     

Temperature changes the dynamics of trace element accumulation in Solanum tuberosum L.

A simulated warming manipulation was conducted to evaluate the effects of temperature increase on cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) accumulation in Solanum tuberosum L. at Dingxi, Gansu, in the semiarid northwest of China. The objective of this study was to determine if temperature increases significantly changed trace element concentrations and contents in the different ecosystem compartments by affecting soil content, soil solubility and plant capture. The results reveal that an increase in temperature will lead to a significant change in trace element concentrations and contents in Solanum tuberosum L. The strongest effects of a 3°C temperature increase are increased Cu, Zn and Fe leaf concentrations of 25, 27 and 24%, respectively; but decreases in Cd, Pb, Fe, Zn and Cu tuber concentrations of 27, 55, 41, 29 and 23%, respectively. The increasing concentrations of some trace elements in Solanum tuberosum L. leaves are related to greater retranslocation, photosynthetic capacity and growth. Warming decreases the concentrations of some trace elements in tubers, implying that tuber growth rate exceeds its metal uptake rate at higher temperatures. Indeed, it is expected that by the year 2050 the increased temperature will have induced a decrease of concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu, Fe and Zn of 9.1, 11.5, 18.5, 16.8 and 15.8%, respectively, in tubers in the study area. In addition, the results indicate that a 1–3°C increase in temperature will improve the availability of selected trace elements and transfer potential of these elements from soil to Solanum tuberosum L.     

Determination of the optimal size of area to be sampled by use of the moss biomonitoring technique

The aim of the present study was to determine the optimal size of the sampling area that should be used in the moss biomonitoring technique, in relation to the spatial variation in the concentrations of contaminants determined in samples collected within short distances (<30 m). For this, the spatial structure in the concentrations of various metals and metalloids was explored by use of semivariograms calculated by use of a robust estimator of the variance. In each of the 3 sampling sites considered in the study (one sampled on two occasions), 50 samples of the moss Pseudoscleropodium purum were collected and the tissue concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, K, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn were determined. The results obtained show that in most cases (25 out of 32), there was no spatial structure in the concentrations of the elements and that the semivariograms were subject to the nugget effect. For those elements for which spatial independence or a linear spatial structure was observed, the size of the sampling area did not affect the results, and the dimensions were irrelevant within the range studied. The existence of spatial structure, which can be fitted to a spherical model, enabled a range of autocorrelation to be defined, which corresponded to an area of diameter >16 m. The proposed method must be applied to other species and in other regions, in order to standardize the size of the sampling sites in the moss biomonitoring technique.     

大伙房水库表层沉积物重金属污染及潜在生态风险评价

大伙房水库是辽河流域典型水库饮用水源地。由于汇水区周边工矿废水的排放,重金属污染问题一直比较突出。为研究水库受重金属污染影响的情况,采用Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法对大伙房水库表层沉积物中重金属Cr、Cu、Zn、Cd、Pb的含量及分布进行分析,并对其污染程度及潜在生态风险危害进行评价,评价结果用地累积指数法进行验证。结果表明：大伙房水库表层沉积物中潜在生态危害最大的重金属元素为Cd,5种重金属元素潜在生态风险危害程度由大到小的顺序为Cd＞Cu＞Pb＞Cr＞Zn。     

河南省某高校校园土壤重金属污染及其防治

在河南省某高校校区内的规模绿地上采集21个土壤样品,在郊区农田采集2个对照样品。按照国家标准方法,测定了土壤Cu、Zn、Ni、Pb和Cr的含量。结果发现:校园土壤中Ni、Zn和Cr发生了不同程度的富积;土壤重金属含量空间变异明显;校园土壤普遍发生了Zn污染,平均污染分指数达2.48,中度和重度污染样点占总样点的57.14%;绝大部分样点的综合污染指数均大于1,其中轻度污染样点13个,中度污染样点5个,重度污染样点2个。根据校园土壤的实际,应从严格控制污染物排放、翻土和客土改良、增施有机肥料、植物修复等方面防治校园土壤重金属污染。     

Biomonitoring of Element Deposition Using Mosses in the 2000 French Survey: Identifying Sources and Spatial Trends

In the year 2000, the elemental composition of mosses collected from 528 French sites has been studied as part of the 2000 European Moss Survey. Five moss species were collected: Scleropodium purum (56%), Pleurozium schreberi (18%), Hypnum cupressiforme (18%), Thuidium tamariscinum (4.5%.) and Hylocomium splendens (3.5%). Mosses were kept whole for analysis, including green and brownish parts. Summary statistics on element concentrations (Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sr, V and Zn), and comparisons made with data from the other 27 participating European countries are shown here. The sources of these elements are identified using calculations of enrichment factors (EF) and principal component analysis (PCA). Finally, the spatial distribution in France of 10 elements is also shown, using maps underscoring areas showing highest concentration levels for each metal.     

Field and Laboratory Exposures of Two Moss Species to Low Level Metal Pollution

Moss transplants of the species Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus and Pleurozium schreberi were used as active biomonitoring organisms as a part of a monitoring study to assess the impact of metals associated with ambient particles on mosses at roadsides.The moss samples were exposed at a semi-urban and roadside site for 3 months for subsequent analysis of metal concentration (Cu, Pb and Zn). This field experiment was carried out to investigate the accumulation of the metals over a period of 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks at the two sites. The metal concentration in the moss samples generally increased with the length of exposure and was higher at the roadside site. The two species, however, showed slightly different accumulation patterns. In addition to the metal analysis chlorophyll concentrations were analysed as a measure of stress response in the moss samples of the above mentioned field exposures. The chlorophyll concentrations of exposed mosses showed no or only weak correlations to the concentration of the three metals measured in the moss, which suggests that other conditions have a greater influence on the chlorophyll concentration.The effect of a single metal on the moss was studied in laboratory experiments exposing R. squarrosus to the metals copper, lead and zinc at concentrations based on the above field data. At the concentrations used there was a significant reduction in the chlorophyll a concentration after exposure to copper.