Heavy metal biomonitoring study using transplanted lichen, Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf, in Kirikkale, Turkey

Abstract

Pollutants in the air and heavy metals are regarded as significant contributors to environmental problems. These environmental issues have a wide range of consequences for living organisms. Heavy metals and contaminants have the potential to alter the makeup and flexibility of cellular frameworks, preventing plant and lichen species from absorbing water and nutrients. Lichen thalli can absorb heavy metals through their cell walls. Lichens are more susceptible to environmental stress than other vascular and non-vascular plants. The goal of this research was to find out the levels of air pollution in Kırıkkale and to generate a city air pollution image using Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf as bioindicator organisms. In November 2002, lichen specimens were taken from an uncontaminated area in the Yapraklı Mountains in Çankırı city and transplanted to 11 various locations in Kırıkkale. Lichen samples were collected twice after 3 and 6 months of exposure. Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) spectrometry was used to measure the heavy metals, Cu, Cd, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn contents. The chlorophyll a and b concentrations were measured and also the chlorophyll a+b, a/b, and b/a ratios were calculated as well. According to the findings of P. furfuracea heavy metal analyses, contents of heavy metals were found to be in first period in range of 0.23–0.45 μg g−1, 0,013–0,020 μg g−1, 1,83–2,61 μg g−1, 0,21–0,59 μg g−1,0.37–0,80 μg g−1, and 0,17–2,10 μg g−1, in second period in range of 0,31-0,77 μg g−1,0,014-0,026 μg g−1 ,1,97-3,06 μg g−1 ,0,24-0,63 μg g−1 , 0,45-1,25 μg g−1 and 0,23-6,74 μg g−1 for Cu, Cd, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Among the reasons for the high values, traffic, autumn-winter heating activities and industrial activities can be mentioned. At 4th and 8th stations with heavy metal accumulation, chlorophyll degradation (0,22 and 0,18 ugr/ml) had started to be observed. These findings showed that P. furfuracea have a high potential for biomonitoring heavy metals in air pollution researches.