The Use of Bryophytes, Lichens and Bromeliads for Evaluating Air and Water Pollution in an Andean City

Abstract

Air and water pollution are global environmental problems; thus, bioindicators have become important tools for monitoring various pollutants, including metals and metalloids. Parmotrema arnoldii (Du Rietz) Hale and Tillandsia usneoides L. were evaluated as indicators of heavy metals in the air and Platyhypnidium aquaticum A. Jaeger and Marchantia polymorpha L. as indicators of heavy metals and a metalloid in water. The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) as air pollutants and aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and arsenic (As) as water pollutants were analyzed within four different zones (control, northern, central and southern) in an Andean city of Ecuador. The level of metal concentrations in the air for P. arnoldii and T. usneoides had the following order of concentration: Zn > Mn > Pb > Cd > Cu. In the case of water, P. aquaticum pointed out a concentration of Al > Mn > Fe > Zn > As > Pb > Cd and proved to be more effective in detecting water pollution than the species M. polymorpha, which had a concentration of Al >Zn > Fe > Cd >As > Mn > Pb. P. aquaticum showed a higher capacity to accumulate heavy metals than M. polymorpha; therefore, it can be used as a model species for passive water quality monitoring. However, P. arnoldii and T. usneoides showed similar heavy metal accumulation related to air quality. The passive monitoring of air quality using bromeliads and lichens as well as bryophytes for water quality proved their effectiveness and applicability in tropical regions such as Ecuador.