Elemental analysis of airborne particulate matter, lichen bioaccumulators and total deposition after 12 months of exposure

Full text: The air pollution in seven locations of Romania (one of them being a reference site) was investigated using transplants of Evernia prunastri and Pseudevernia furfuracea lichens as trace element bioaccumulators during 12 months exposure. This research represents a completion of a previous study based on 6 months of lichen exposure. The results obtained for bulk deposition collected during 12 months, as well as those for the airborne particulate matter sequentially collected on filters during the second semester of experiment at three locations (2 months collection each, in parallel with the reference site) were also included. As analytical techniques, INAA at IRI TU Delft (The Netherlands) on lichens, filters and bulk deposition, and at IFIN-HH in Bucharest (Romania) for filters (long-lived radionuclides), XRFA at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart (Germany) for lichens and filters, as well as ICP-MS at Trondheim University (Norway) for lichens were applied. The investigated elements were: Ag, As, Au, Br, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, Sb, Se, V, and Zn. Similar with the case of 6-months exposure, significant enrichments (difference to 'zero level') for all the studied elements, except for Br, Ca, K, and Mn, were found in both lichen species after 12-month exposure. Small lichen enrichments were determined for Mn and Ca, especially at Galati (metallurgical industry) as well as for Br at all locations. Concerning the 'enrichment factors' (ratios to 'zero level'), both lichen species presented the highest values at Copsa Mica for Pb, Cd, Ag, Zn, Sb, As and Cu. For the suspended matter in air, relative to the background zone Fundata the highest concentration ratios were determined as follows: Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, S, Sb, and Zn at Copsa Mica; Au and Se at Baia Mare; Br at Afumati and Baia Mare; Ca at Galati and Oradea; Co, Fe and K at Galati; Cr and Mn at Deva; Ni and V at Oradea (urban site, most probably due to the oil burning). (author)