Studies on Uptake and Localization of metals in lichens growing around Thermal Power Plant through application of SEM and FTIR techniques

Abstract

Coal based thermal power plants are considered as major point sources emitting considerable amount of particulate matter, fly ash, greenhouse gases, non-combustible hydrocarbons and metals. In order to assess the impact of thermal power plant in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India, two morphologically distinct lichen species Pyxine cocoes and Bacidia incongruens have been used for conducting biomonitoring studies around thermal power plant located in Tanda district (Uttar Pradesh). Result shows that both the species differs in morphology and anatomy but bioaccumulates more or less similar concentration of metal through adsorption and absorption, as validated by SEM and FTIR respectively. The bioaccumulation in particulate form absorbed on the surface of the lichen thallus further support the particulate bound association of the pollutants emitted from thermal power plant a source of metals. .