Elemental composition of lichen on roofing slate as bioindicator of air pollution in Gorno-Altaysk

Abstract

Relevance of the work is caused by the need to assess and monitor the ecological condition of atmospheric air in Gorno-Altaisk as the most urbanized area of the Altai Republic. The main aim of the study is the research of chemical composition and characteristics of distribution of elements in the lichen Caloplaca sp. (scale) on the slate as a bioindicator of the specificity and intensity of anthropogenic activities in Gorno-Altaisk. The methods: lichen Caloplaca sp. (scale) and conjugate slate sampling from the roof of buildings, determination of content of 28 chemical elements using instrumental neutron activation analysis, processing and interpretation of the data obtained by the methods of applied statistics. The results. The authors have obtained the data on the levels of contents of chemical elements in the lichen Caloplaca sp. (scale) on the slate near Gorno-Altaysk and compared them with local background and clarke in the biosphere. Close relationship between the elements of As, Sb, Cr, Zn, Ba, Br, Co, Fe, U association, rare earth elements in lichen, as well as their level of concentration and content in coals of the Kuznetsk basin was determined. The paper introduces the argument in favor of admission of these elements in the lichen Caloplaca sp. from atmospheric air. The authors revealed the scope of their elevated concentrations in lichen, spatially coincident with areas of high dust load within the Metropolitan area. The conclusion is made about the possibility of using the elemental composition of the epilithic lichen Caloplaca sp. on the slate for bioindication of specificity and intensity of anthropogenic activities, as well as an additional indicator for monitoring the condition of surface atmosphere of the settlements within Gorno-Altaisk area.

Keywords

• Gorno-Altaisk
• air
• lichen on slate
• elemental composition
• peculiarities of distribution
• pollution