Abstract
Xanthoria parietina , common foliose lichen, growing in its natural habitat, was analysed for the concentration of five heavy metals (Fe, Cr, Zn, Pb and Cu) from different forest sites of North East of Morocco (Kenitra, Sidi Boughaba, Mkhinza, Ceinture Verte near Temara city, Skhirate, Bouznika and Mohammedia). The quantification was carried out by inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Results were highly significant p<0,001. The concentration of metals is correlated with the vehicular activity and urbanization. The total metal concentration is highest at the Kenitra area, followed by Ceinture Verte site near Temara city, which experience heavy traffic throughout the year. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of particulate matter on lichen of Xanthoria parietina was assessed as a complementary technique to wet chemical analysis for source apportionment of airborne contaminant. Analysis revealed high level of Cu, Cr, Zn and Pb in samples near roads.
Highlights
Lichens are very effective as an early warning system to detect environmental changes (MARKERT & al., 1996)
Our results indicate that the exhaust gases of motor vehicles and other anthropogenic activities are the main sources of air pollution in forest ecosystem analyzed
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-EDX and ICP-AES has revealed information about chemical deposition of air borne particulate accumulated on epiphytic lichens
Summary
Lichens are very effective as an early warning system to detect environmental changes (MARKERT & al., 1996). A scanning electron microscope approach can perform the functions of imaging and elemental analysis, it is widely available and is comparatively rapid in that analysis and can be partially automated It characterizes physicochemical composition of the airborne particulate on biological material from multiple pollution sources (HAAPALA, 1998).The characterization of particulates on the lichen surface offers a powerful complementary technique to whole -sample analysis. The summer, on the other hand, is dry and sunny, but this does not preclude the appearance of banks of mist and dew, that are both quite common During this period, annual rainfall is 60 mm in Kenitra, 560 mm in Rabat and 400 mm in Casablanca. Care was taken to choose the thalli at a similar stage of development and only the outermost part of the thallus
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