1,721,212 research outputs found
Book Review: Introduction to environmental engineering, Fränzle S., Markert B., Wünschmann S., Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Germany, 2012
No full textReview of the book “Chemical Evolution - The Biological System of the Elements” (Springer, 2015) by Bernd Markert, Stefan Fränzle, and Simone Wünschmann
No full textLichens as sentinels for air pollution at remote alpine areas (Italy)
No full textThe present study was undertaken with the aim of using epiphytic lichens as sentinels for air pollution at two remote alpine sites (1,400 and 1,800 m above sea level (asl)) of NW Italy. The results indicated that the site at 1,800 m prompted for early warning indications of biological changes. Although levels of the many elements assayed in samples of the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf, ranging from minor elements (e. g., Al) to ultra-trace (e. g., Pt), were at normal levels, indications of a slowly worsening environment were given by the lichen biodiversity and by damage to cell membranes. The analysis of Pb isotopic ratios suggested that the origin of Pb accumulated in lichens is not local, but linked to the long-range transport by air masses. It was concluded that the origin of pollutants is from air mass coming from the Po plain of Italy and from densely populated areas of Switzerland and France
Comparison of the trace element content in transplants of the lichen Evernia prunastri and in bulk atmospheric deposition: A case study from a low polluted environment (C Italy)
No full textThis study investigated whether lichen samples transplanted and retrieved monthly for six months reflect bulk deposition under conditions of relatively low air pollution. The study investigated also whether samples exposed for six months provide data consistent with the one-month transplants. The lichen Evernia prunastri was collected from a remote site and exposed at a study site (the Botanical Garden of the University of Siena, Italy), along with an atmospheric bulk deposition collector. Lichens and bulk deposition were analysed by ICP-MS for the content of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Ti and Zn. The results showed significant correlations between lichen content and bulk deposition for Al, As, Cu, Fe, Hg, Sb and Ti, suggesting that in one month the equilibrium is reached for these elements between the lichen and the atmosphere. The above elements (but Sb) in lichen and bulk deposition are related to soil-particulates, while traffic is the source for Sb deposition. In addition, samples exposed for 6 months showed results consistent with the one-month transplants for As, Cu and Hg, suggesting that for these elements in the study site the equilibrium is maintained also for longer periods
May the Diversity of Epiphytic Lichens Be Used in Environmental Forensics?
Full text linkEpiphytic (tree inhabiting) lichens, well-known biomonitors of atmospheric pollution, have a great potential for being used in environmental forensics. Monitoring changes in biodiversity is a useful method for evaluating the quality of an ecosystem. Lichen species occurring within an area show measurable responses to environmental changes, and lichen biodiversity counts can be taken as reliable estimates of environmental quality, with high values corresponding to unpolluted or low polluted conditions and low values to polluted ones. Lichen diversity studies may be very useful in the framework of environmental forensics, since they may highlight the biological effects of pollutants and constitute the base for epidemiological studies. It is thus of paramount importance that great care is taken in the interpretation of the results, especially in the context of a rapidly changing environment and facing global change scenarios. For this reason, it seems advisable to produce several zonal maps, each based on different species groups, and each interpreted in a different way. This exercise could also be a valid support in the framework of a sensitivity analysis, to support or reject the primary results. In addition, a clear and formal expression of the overall uncertainty of the outputs is absolutely necessary
Lichen diversity and lichen transplants as monitors of air pollution in a rural area of central Italy
No full textThe results of a biomonitoring study carried out in the Municipality of Colle di Val d'Elsa (central Italy), using the diversity of epiphytic lichens and the accumulation of selected elements in thalli of the lichen Evernia prunastri transplanted in two urban sites are reported. The results indicate that the survey area suffers from different types of pollution. The main air pollutants are NOX and Pb. Vehicular traffic and domestic heating are the main sources of the former, and traffic and a crystal factory of the latter. Furthermore, most study area is eutrophicated due to diffuse agricultural activities and the presence of pig and sheep stockfarms
Diversity of epiphytic lichens and metal contents of Parmelia caperata thalli as monitors of air pollution in the town of Pistoia (C Italy)
No full textThe results of a biomonitoring survey carried out in the town of Pistoia (central Italy) using the biodiversity of epiphytic lichens and the accumulation of heavy metals in thalli of Parmelia caperata as indicators of air pollution are reported. Compared to previous surveys, the overall situation generally improved, with higher lichen diversity at most stations and lower metal concentrations in P. caperata thalli. However, the general picture according to a calibrated scale of environmental naturality/alteration was substantially negative, with about 87% of the study area classified as 'altered' (including the lichen desert) or 'semi-altered'. To explain this apparent contradiction, it has been suggested that lichen colonization is determined by declining SO2 concentrations, while major injuries to lichen communities are caused by the constantly high levels of NOX. In spite of the low levels of Pb measured in P. caperata thalli, vehicular traffic was excluded as the main source of atmospheric pollution. Domestic heating seems to be the main cause of changes in the diversity of epiphytic lichens in the study area
Mapping the effects of air pollution, nitrogen deposition, agriculture and dust by the diversity of epiphytic lichens
No full textEpiphytic lichens as sentinels for heavy metal pollution at forest ecosystems (central Italy)
No full textThe results of a study using epiphytic lichens (Parmelia caperata) as sentinels for heavy metal deposition at six selected forest ecosystems of central Italy are reported. The woods investigated are characterized by holm oak (Quercus ilex), turkey oak (Quercus cerris) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) and represent the typical forest ecosystems of central Italy at low, medium and high elevations, respectively. The results showed that levels of heavy metals in lichens were relatively low and consequently no risk of heavy metal air pollution is expected for the six forest ecosystems investigated. However, for two of them there are indications of a potential risk: the beech forest of Vallombrosa showed signs of contamination by Pb as a consequence of vehicle traffic due to the rather high touristic pressure in the area, and the holm oak forest of Cala Violina showed transboundary pollution by Mn, Cr and Ni originating from the steel industry in Piombino. Epiphytic lichens proved to be very effective as an early warning system to detect signs of a changing environment at forest ecosystems
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