COMPARATIVE STUDY OF HEAVY METALS AMOUNT IN THE EXPOSED LICHEN SPECIES EVERNIA USNEA HIRTA (L.) WEB. IN WIG. AT PARTLY POLLUTED ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

This article presents results of heavy metals concentration of Pb, Al, Cd, Cu and Zn at exposed lichens species Usnea hirta (L.) Web. in Wig. moved from partly unpolluted areas of Kopaonik Mountain to the partly polluted areas of Vranje city and its environment. Lichens absorb heavy metals and accumulate them irregularly. Heavy metals accumulation depends on the lichens species, type of vegetate stadium and its locality, as well from the site where the lichens had been exposed and type of the metals that specific lichens species have ability to absorb and accumulate. Lichens’ thallus had been moved from the partly polluted sites of the Republic of Serbia, mountain Kopaonik, to the highly polluted sites of the Vranje city area and its environment, where they were exposed to the process of aero-pollution for the next 6 months at seven locations. After mentioned period, in the lichens thallus had been investigated concentration of the heavy metals: Pb, Al, Cd, Cu and Zn. Determined concentration of the heavy metals: Pb, Al, Cu and Zn after were compared with the detected values from the mountain Kopaonik.

Keywords

• aero-pollution
• heavy metals
• lichens