Biomonitors Of Atmospheric Pollution Research Articles

Influence of Land Use on the C and N Status of a C4 Invasive Grass in a Semi-Arid Region: Implications for Biomonitoring.

Biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution is an increasingly accepted practice. However, most existing biomonitors are usually epiphytic species from mesic environments. This work assessed the suitability of buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), an invasive C4 grass in northwestern Mexico, as a biomonitor, by means of the spatial distribution of the carbon and nitrogen content and isotopic signatures for grass samples collected from urban, agricultural, and natural areas throughout the state of Sonora. We found the highest tissue carbon content of 45.6% (on a dry weight basis) and highest nitrogen content of 3.31% for buffelgrass from the Yaqui Valley. We also found the lowest δ13C of −15.9‰, and the highest δ15N of 16.7‰ in the same region. In contrast, the lowest carbon and nitrogen content of 39.4 and 1.49% were found for Bahía de Kino and Río Sonora mountains, respectively. The lowest δ15N of 2.18‰ and the highest δ13C of −13.7‰ were measured for two remote locations. These results show the influence that pollutant emissions, including agriculture and transportation, have on elemental and isotopic composition of vegetation. Buffelgrass is most adequate for tracking carbon and nitrogen emissions in arid environments and for determining alterations on nitrogen soil reactions, as a first approximation for saturation.

Evaluation of the spatial variability of the elements in tree barks used as biomonitors of atmospheric pollution

Tree barks have proven to be a valuable source of information on air quality. Nowadays, studies with this biomonitor are constantly being developed. However, data of several factors that affect the accumulation of the pollutants in the barks, such as bark porosity, duration of the deposition on the bark and dispersion or variability of pollutants in a defined area, are scarce in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the spatial variability of chemical elements concentrations accumulated on Sibipiruna (Cenostigna pluviosarum) barks in order to examine their aerial dispersion in two small urban areas of the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo. The neutron activation analysis (NAA) applied in the analyses consisted of irradiation the aliquots of the sample together the synthetic element standards at the IEA-R1 nuclear reactor. Concentrations of the As, Br, Ca, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, K, La, Mn, Rb, Sb, Sc, V and Zn were determined in tree barks using short and long irradiations. Results obtained in the analyses of the tree bark samples indicated that the variability of element concentrations depends on the element, study area and numbers of trees. The variability of element concentrations in general was higher for elements presenting low concentrations. Quality control of the analytical results was evaluated by the analysis of INCT-MPH-2 Mixed Polish Herbs Certified Reference Material and these results presented good accuracy with values of standardized difference or |ζ score| ≤ 2, indicating that the procedure of NAA applied is suitable for the analyses.

Evaluation of homing pigeon feather tissue as a biomonitor of environmental metal concentrations in China.

Biomonitoring provides direct evidence of the bioavailability and accumulation of toxic elements in the environment, and homing pigeons have been proposed as a biomonitor of atmospheric pollution. We evaluated metal concentrations in homing pigeon feather tissue as a biomonitoring tool. We measured cadmium, lead, and mercury concentrations in feathers collected from 5-6-yo homing pigeons from Guangzhou, Beijing, and Harbin, China during 2011, and feathers of 1, 5, and 10-yo homing pigeons collected from Guangzhou, Beijing, and Harbin, China during 2015-16. We compared metal concentrations in feathers between sexes and among ages and evaluated spatio-temporal differences. Correlations between feather metal concentrations and previously evaluated kidney and liver metal concentrations are reported. There were no significant differences in feather metal concentrations between male and female pigeons or among 1, 5, and 10-yo pigeons. Cadmium, lead, and mercury concentrations in feathers of 1-yo pigeons were significantly correlated with concentrations in liver and kidney tissues, although the correlations were not consistent. Spatio-temporal differences in feather metal concentrations suggest the usefulness of feathers in identifying areas of concern and remedial effectiveness. Homing pigeon feather metal concentrations appear to be useful as a screening biomonitoring tool.

Special Issue Editorial: Biomonitoring of Atmospheric Pollution

Despite the introduction of cleaning technologies in industry, energy production and transport, air pollution remains a major health risk; nonetheless, achieving a good air quality is a necessity for human health and ecosystems [...]

Moss and Lichen Biomonitoring of Atmospheric Pollution in the Western Cape Province (South Africa)

For the first time, the atmospheric deposition of trace elements was investigated in two regions (Cape Winelands and Cape Peninsula) of the Western Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) using naturally growing mosses and lichens. A total of 33 elements were determined by epithermal instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Multivariate statistical analysis was used to identify and characterize different pollution sources.

Metal concentrations in homing pigeon lung tissue as a biomonitor of atmospheric pollution.

Atmospheric pollution in urban areas is a major worldwide concern with potential adverse impacts on wildlife and humans. Biomonitoring can provide direct evidence of the bioavailability and bioaccumulation of toxic metals in the environment that is not available with mechanical air monitoring. The current study continues our evaluation of the usefulness of homing pigeon lung tissue as a biomonitor of atmospheric pollution. Homing pigeons (1-2, 5-6, and 9-10+ year old (yo)) collected from Guangzhou during 2015 were necropsied and concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) were measured in lung tissue. Lung Cd and Pb concentrations were significantly greater in 9-10+-year-old pigeons compared with those in other age groups, indicating their bioavailability and bioaccumulation. Lung Pb and Cd concentrations measured in 5-yo pigeons collected from Guangzhou during 2015 were significantly lower than concentrations reported in 5-yo homing pigeons collected from Guangzhou during 2011 and correlated with concentrations measured using mechanical air monitoring. In addition to temporal differences, spatial differences in concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Hg reported in ambient air samples and in pigeon lung tissues collected from Beijing and Guangzhou are discussed.

Assessing the Potential of Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) in Bio-monitoring of Atmospheric Pollution in Urban Katsina, Northern Nigeria

The study assessed the use of Neem tree (Azadirachta indica)as a possible bio-monitor to effectively manage increased atmospheric pollution in Katsina Metropolis. In the light of this, leaves and bark samples of Neem tree were collected in KofarKaura, KofarKwaya and KofarMarusa (and at a control site located about 17km from the Katsina city) and analyzed for Cd, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn and Fe using spectrophometer. The results obtained indicated clearly that the three areas of large human activity (KofarKwaya, KofarKaura and KofarMarusa) contained generally higher level of Cd, Pb, Zn, Mn, Cu and Fe than the control site. Of the six metals, Zn, Pb and Fe have the highest concentrations and Cu, Mn the least. The high levels of Pb and Zn were attributed to their use in petroleum products being heavily consumed in activities carried out in the activity areas. Levels of the metals are generally above the safety levels prescribed by international standards. In addition, it would affect human health because of the widespread use of leaves, seeds and barks of the specie for medicinal purposes. The heavy metal concentrations in bark, leaves and soil ofAzadirachtaindica (Neem) in the study area suggests that automobiles constitute a major source of atmospheric heavy metals pollution into the urban environment of Katsina city

Assessment of trace metal air pollution in Paris using slurry-TXRF analysis on cemetery mosses.

Mosses are useful, ubiquitous accumulation biomonitors and as such can be used for biomonitoring surveys. However, the biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution can be compromised in urban contexts if the targeted biomonitors are regularly disturbed, irregularly distributed, or are difficult to access. Here, we test the hypothesis that cemeteries are appropriate moss sampling sites for the evaluation of air pollution in urban areas. We sampled mosses growing on gravestones in 21 urban and peri-urban cemeteries in the Paris metropolitan area. We focused on Grimmia pulvinata (Hedwig) Smith, a species abundantly found in all studied cemeteries and very common in Europe. The concentration of Al, As, Br, Ca, Ce, Cl, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Ni, V, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sr, Ti, and Zn was determined by a total reflection X-ray fluorescence technique coupled with a slurry sampling method (slurry-TXRF). This method avoids a digestion step, reduces the risk of sample contamination, and works even at low sample quantities. Elemental markers of road traffic indicated that the highest polluted cemeteries were located near the highly frequented Parisian ring road and under the influence of prevailing winds. The sites with the lowest pollution were found not only in the peri-urban cemeteries, adjoining forest or farming landscapes, but also in the large and relatively wooded cemeteries located in the center of Paris. Our results suggest that (1) slurry-TXRF might be successfully used with moss material, (2) G. pulvinata might be a good biomonitor of trace metals air pollution in urban context, and (3) cemetery moss sampling could be a useful complement for monitoring urban areas. Graphical abstract We tested the hypothesis that cemeteries are appropriate moss sampling sites for the evaluation of air pollution in urban areas. We sampled 110 moss cushions (Grimmia pulvinata) growing on gravestones in 21 urban and peri-urban cemeteries in the Paris metropolitan area. The concentration of 20 elements in mosses was determined by a total reflection X-ray fluorescence technique coupled with a slurry sampling method. Statistical analysis revealed that: - Urbanized Parisian areas crossed by traffic roads have the highest polluted cemeteries with a strong influence of main wind direction on the distribution of air pollutants - As expected, small cemeteries with low tree density were heavily polluted - Less obvious, large green spaces such as large cemeteries (Père Lachaise, Montmartre, Montparnasse) in the center of a dense metropolis like Paris present the same level of atmospheric trace metal pollution as cemeteries in less urbanized areas or nearing a very large forest. This suggests that even in densely urbanized areas, there is more spatial variability in pollution distribution than usually assumed and that large urban areas with low traffic and green filters such as trees are likely to intercept air pollutants.

Bioaccumulation, physiological and ultrastructural effects of glyphosate in the lichen Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr.

This study compared bioaccumulation as well as physiological (content of ergosterol as marker of fungal vitality and photosynthetic efficiency as marker of algal vitality) and ultrastructural effects of glyphosate in the lichen Xanthoria parietina, with the herbicide being provided either by soaking or spraying of the samples. The results showed that bioaccumulation of glyphosate is fast and proportional to the dose supplied, and is independent on the way it is supplied. Toxic effects resulting from glyphosate uptake by both soaking and spraying were evident at physiological and ultrastructural level, both in the algal and fungal partner, with negative effects being generally dose- and time-dependent. Since our results showed that the concentration of glyphosate bioaccumulated in X. parietina remains stable (at least up to 90 days), a perspective is open for using lichens in biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution by glyphosate as a side effect of the application of this herbicide.

Use of homing pigeons as biomonitors of atmospheric metal concentrations in Beijing and Guangzhou, China.

Biomonitoring provides direct evidence of the bioavailability and accumulation of toxic elements in the environment and in the current study, homing pigeons were used as a biomonitor of atmospheric pollution in Beijing and Guangzhou, China. Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) concentrations were measured in lung, kidney, and liver tissues of 25 homing pigeons collected from Beijing (n = 15) and Guangzhou (n = 10). Cadmium concentrations in all tissue and lung Pb concentrations were significantly greater in pigeons collected from Guangzhou compared to those collected from Beijing. Lung Cd and Pb concentrations corresponded to differences in ambient air concentrations between the two cities, suggesting that homing pigeons are valuable biomonitors of atmospheric metal contamination. Liver and kidney Hg concentrations were significantly greater in pigeons collected from Beijing compared to those collected from Guangzhou, while Hg concentrations in lung tissue were not significantly different. Results of the current study support a conclusion that homing pigeons provide valuable data for evaluating exposure and potential effects to environmental metal concentrations.

Variations in mercury concentration within and across lichen Xanthoparmelia spp. individuals: implications for evaluating histories of contaminant loading and sampling design

Environmental context Lichens have been widely used as biomonitors of atmospheric pollution in the absence of high-density ambient monitoring networks. This study examines the potential for the lichen Xanthoparmelia spp. as a recorder of temporal histories of mercury deposition to the landscape. Abstract Effects of thallus size and internal zonation on the Hg concentration in the foliose lichen Xanthoparmelia spp. were investigated. Size and zonation effects, if present, provide the potential for temporal records of atmospheric deposition to be recorded in lichens. Our results (n=49; 0.4–13.8cm in diameter) indicated no significant relationship between Hg and size, although thalli less than 2cm in diameter tended towards lower Hg concentrations; and no zonation of Hg within thalli. Distinct zonation of Hg in thalli has been reported in some studies, but not in others, indicating regulatory mechanisms result by which Hg is released or relocated within the thallus under certain conditions. A secondary objective was to evaluate the variability of Hg in lichen individuals to drive future sampling designs. Within a size range of 2–8cm in diameter, we observed Hg=154±30ppb (mean±s.d., n=38). Bootstrap analysis of this dataset indicated that for a sample size of n=3 thalli, we can expect a 94% probability that the variability in our sample set will be at least as low as that observed in other studies of Hg in lichen (s.d. ≈50ppb Hg).

The scalp hair as a monitor for trace elements in biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution

The chemical element contents in scalp hair of 80 apparently healthy 15- to 58-year-old citizens (36 females and 44 males) of a non-industrial region in the Central European part of Russia were investigated by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). The summary of statistics, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, standard error of mean, minimum and maximum values, median, percentiles with 0.025 and 0.975 levels for mass fraction of 44 chemical elements: Ag, Al, As, Au, Ba, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Eu, Fe, Gd, Hf, Hg, I, K, La, Li, Lu, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nd, P, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, Tm, V, Yb and Zn, were determined for hair of females, males and both females and males taken together. The correlations between element contents in hair and bone are also presented.

Measuring Uncertainty in Lichen Biomonitoring of Atmospheric Pollution: The Case of $\hbox{SO}_{2}$

Large-scale biomonitoring surveys on atmospheric air pollution face the following challenges: (1) how to select which biomonitor and how this organism reflects the atmospheric pollutant of interest and (2) what methods to use for interpreting the vast data that will be gathered. This paper addresses these issues through an integrative fuzzy knowledge-based system for environmental biomonitoring applications with lichens. The system gathers and combines geographical, ecological, and physicochemical data of lichen responses to pollution within a computer program that (1) recognizes groups of indigenous species suitable for long-term pollution monitoring and (2) estimates pollution levels from species distribution data. Thereby, the proposed scheme provides a means to convert species field data to measurements under conditions of uncertainty. The proposed biosurveillance program has been successfully tested at a small scale, proving its functionality even under conditions of increased uncertainty. Within a suitable management framework, it could further be utilized in environmental impact studies and risk assessment (positive or analytic approach), short-term decision making (normative or tactical approach), and long-term policy making (normative or strategic approach).

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the needles of a Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), a biomonitor of atmospheric pollution

A procedure was developed for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the needles of a Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), which is characterized by the simple and efficient sample preparation. The procedure involves the steps of the extraction of PAH with n-hexane on ultrasonic irradiation, the precipitation of concomitant cereous components from the extract on its cooling, the purification of the PAH fraction on a cartridge with silica gel (0.5 g), and the redissolution of the concentrated eluate in methanol. The quantitative determination of PAH (15 compounds including 13 priority) with the use of chromatography-mass spectrometry in the selective ion detection mode exhibits the interlaboratory precision of the results of the PAH determination V Rl = 0.059–0.088 for the concentration of PAH in needles from 0.3 to 600 ng/g and a detection limit of 0.06 ng/g (signal-to-noise ratio = 3; mass of the sample for extraction was 10 g). The accumulation levels of PAH in the Scotch pine needles were presented; the needles were first studied as a biomonitor of atmospheric pollution over the southern part of the Baikal natural territory.

Aleppo Pine Bark as a Biomonitor of Atmospheric Pollution in the Arid Environment of Jordan

AbstractMonitoring of atmospheric pollution using Aleppo bark as a bioindicator was carried out in the industrial area surrounding the Al‐Hussein thermal power station and the oil refinery at Al‐Hashimyeh town, Jordan. The concentrations of heavy metals (copper, lead, cadmium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, zinc, iron, and chromium) were analyzed in bark samples collected from the study area during July 2004. The results showed that high levels of heavy metals were found in tree bark samples retrieved from all studied sites compared with the remote reference site. This is, essentially, due to the fact that the oil refinery and the thermal power plant still use low‐quality fuel oil from the by‐products of oil refining. Automobile emissions are another source of pollution since the study area is located along a major heavy‐traffic highway. It was found that the area around the study sites (Al‐Hashimyeh town, Zarqa) is polluted with high levels of heavy metals. Pine bark was found to be a suitable bioindicator of aerial fallout of heavy metals in arid regions.

Investigation by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of secondary metabolites in lichens deposited on stone monuments.

Lichens are ubiquitous organisms formed by symbiotic associations of fungal hyphas and algae that also grow under often extreme environmental conditions. They produce secondary metabolites, the so-called lichen substances, whose structural characterization can give an important contribution to lichen taxonomy. Lichens are also widely employed as biomonitors of atmospheric pollution; being epiphyte organisms they tend, in fact, to accumulate exogenous compounds. Moreover, it could be questioned if the environmental stress alters their secondary metabolites production. Therefore, a new strategy for the analysis of the organic substances absorbed or metabolized by lichens has been developed. This method exploits the dry solid-phase microextraction (SPME) headspace technique coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Lichens coating the stone surfaces of monuments, located in small towns between high mountains and far away from urban environments, have been investigated. In the field of cultural heritage, this study can contribute to the knowledge of the state of conservation of outdoor exposed historical monuments.

The importance of indicator species in the biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution. A case study in the city of Aosta, NW Italy

This paper describes the employment of lichens as bioindicators to estimate the atmospheric pollution generated by the intra-alpine city of Aosta. The Italian version of the Swiss method was used to collect data from Populus nigra . A total of 29 epiphytic lichen species were identified. This study has shown that the most polluted zones are those of the built-up parts of the city of Aosta due to the combined effects of heavy traffic and domestic heating. On the valley floor, there is a more marked improvement from Aosta to the west, since temperature inversion is responsible for longer persistence of pollutants to the east of the city. It was also found that Phaeophyscia orbicularis can be regarded as an indicator of atmospheric pollution in the Aosta area. Evaluation of its presence alone at brief intervals is thus a useful of keeping the situation under control.

Bees, honey, larvae and pollen in biomonitoring of atmospheric pollution

The value relations of lead, chromium, nickel and cadmium as detected by automatic monitoring devices and recoderd by chemical analysis from monthly samples of the honey, pollen and larvae of honey bees are reported and discussed. The experiment was conducted at Modena in 1989 using five monitoring stations deployed around the city, each consisting of two hives. No positive correlation between the values for the biological matrices and for the abiological data was found, although there appears to be a certain latency of the pollutant in the former as compared to the latter. In most cases the plotted trends of the data, especially for lead in honey, are overlapping.