Biomonitoring of heavy metals by Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf in Aksaray city, Turkey

Mixed air pollutants are considered a major cause of damage in living organisms. Air pollution and associated heavy metal pollution is a serious environmental problem. One of the methods used to monitor heavy metal pollution is the method of transplanting lichen samples by the 'bag technique'. The objective of this study was to determine the air pollution level of Aksaray and to generate the air pollution map of this city by using Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf as a bioindicator. The study area was characterized by the presence of numerous industrial, heating activities and traffic. Lichen samples were collected from unpolluted area at Yaprakli Mountains, cankiri in November 2002 and transplanted to 7 different localities in Aksaray. They were retrieved following an exposure of 3 and 6 months. Heavy metal, Cu, Cd, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, contents were determined by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The chlorophyll a and b contents were determined by using DMSO method. According to the heavy metal analysis results of P. furfuracea, air pollution in Aksaray owing to industrial activities, heating and traffic showed various changes in different stations and periods studied. Heavy metal concentrations in various stations showed obvious differences according to determination methods applied in the experiments. The results indicated that lichens had a great potential of bioindicator capacity.

Automated summary

In this study, the air pollution level of Aksaray was determined using Pseudevernia furfuracea as a bioindicator, and an air pollution map of the city was generated. The results indicated that lichens have a great potential as bioindicators for air pollution.