Arsenic Speciation in Transplanted Lichens and Tree Bark in the Framework of a Biomonitoring Scenario |
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Authors: | A Machado Z Šlejkovec J. T. Van Elteren M. C. Freitas M. S. Baptista |
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Affiliation: | (1) ITN-Technological and Nuclear Institute, Reactor, E. N. 10, 2686-953 Sacavém, Portugal;(2) Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1111 Ljubljana, Slovenia;(3) National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;(4) CIIMAR, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal |
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Abstract: | Arsenic and its chemical species were determined in transplanted lichens (Parmelia caperata) and tree bark (Platanus hybrida), in order to get a better understanding of their atmospheric cycling and the suitability of these materials for biomonitoring purposes. Various strategies were used (discontinuous and cumulative exposure of transplants) to biomonitor two locations in Portugal, viz. the northern Lisbon area and Sines, both highly industrialised areas.Analytical techniques comprised instrumental nuclear activation analysis (INAA), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography-hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HPLC-HGAFS) for determination of total arsenic in solid materials, total arsenic in extracts of solid materials and arsenic species in extracts of solid materials, respectively.Only a fraction (up to 50%) of the extracted arsenic species could be identified and quantified in the transplanted lichens, being mainly inorganic arsenic and some methylated arsenic species. Since in a previous study these methylated arsenic species were not found in aerosols collected in the same area, it is probable that the lichen transplants studied (Parmelia caperata) do not behave as genuine passive biomonitors but are able to actively methylate inorganic arsenic to methylated arsenic species. Furthermore, this lichen-induced methylation occurs with some delay, possibly as a reaction to the transplantation of the lichen itself, and therefore transplanted lichens are only suitable for long-term biomonitoring studies. For tree bark only total arsenic concentration data could be generated since speciation analysis failed due to too low an initial total arsenic concentrations. |
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Keywords: | pollution atmosphere transplants speciation aerosols |
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