Biomonitoring of 210Po and 210Pb using lichens and mosses around coal-fired power plants in Western Turkey

Abstract

Mosses and lichens are useful biological indicators of environmental contamination for a variety of metals and radionuclides of both natural and artificial origin. These plants lack a well-developed root system and rely largely on atmospheric deposition for nourishment. Therefore in the study, different lichens (Cladonia convoluta, Cladonia foliacea) and mosses (Homalothecium sericeum, Hypnum lacunosum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Tortella tortuosa, Didymodon acutus, Syntrichia ruralis, Syntrichia intermedia, Pterogonium graciale, Isothecium alopecuroides, Pleurochatae squarrosa) were collected around the Yatağan (Muğla), Soma (Manisa), Seyitömer – Tunçbilek (Kütahya) coal-fired power plants and investigated for potential use as biomonitors for 210Po and 210Pb deposition. While the activity concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb in lichens are in the ranges of 151 ± 7–593 ± 21 and 97 ± 5–364 ± 13 Bq kg−1, for mosses the ranges for 210Po and 210Pb are 124 ± 5–1125 ± 38 and 113 ± 4–490 ± 17 Bq kg−1, respectively. In the study, the moss samples were observed to accumulate more 210Po and 210Pb compared to lichens. While the most suitable biomonitor was a moss species (H. lacunosum) for Yatağan (Muğla), it was another moss species (S. intermedia) for Soma (Manisa) and Seyitömer – Tunçbilek (Kütahya) sites. 210Po concentrations were found higher than 210Pb concentrations at the all sampling stations.