Air Pollution Monitoring in Delhi City by Using Lichen Transplant Technique

Abstract

<p>Air pollution biomonitoring was first time done in Delhi by using lichen transplanted technique (LTT). Lichens are biomonitoring<br />indicator and effect of atmospheric pollutants on physiological integrity was examined. Samples made of epiphytic foliose lichen<br />Pyxinecocoes(Sw.) Nyl. were actively transplanted at five different sites in Delhi (bus-stop, residential area, commercial area, industrials<br />area and highways) for monitoring the quantitative estimation of heavy meatls (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Fe and Zn) contained in the lichen<br />thallus at vertical positions and also potential quantum yield of photosystem II (fluorescence ratio Fv/Fm), change in the concentration of<br />pigmentation and chlorophyll degradation ratio. The highest concentration is of Iron (Fe) in all the sites and the lowest concentration is of<br />Cadmium (Cd) in all the sites. Two metals Arsenic (As) and Chromium (Cr) were not detected (N.D) in any of the sites in the present study.<br />Rain also interrupted the transplantedperiod. Bus-stop and highways are most polluted as compared to residential, commercial area. It was<br />also evident from this study that vehicular emission played a significant role in the releasing of elements as pollutants in the surrounding<br />environment.<br />Key words: Lichens, Heavy metals, Biomonitoring, LichenTransplant Technique</p><p> </p><p><span>DOI: </span><a id="pub-id::doi" href="http://dx.doi.org/10.21756/cba.v1i1.11018">http://dx.doi.org/10.21756/cba.v1i1.11018</a></p>