MERCURY CONTENT IN THE EPIPHYTIC LICHENS OF CRIMEA REPUBLIC

Abstract

In continuation of biomonitoring investigation of mercury on Crimean peninsula territory, aimed at systemic approach realization to determine its distribution between components of biosphere and processing of regional ecological standards for this and other metals, the mercury content was determined in epiphytic lichens that are natural planshet of atmospheric emission. The aim of this study was to evaluate mercury content in the epiphytic lichens from the central, southern, southern-eastern and eastern districts of the Crimean peninsula. Methods. Mercury content in lichens was determined by atomic adsorption analysis using mercury analyzer RА-915+ with PYRO-915 attachment in the laboratory of nuclear-geochemical methods of investigation in IISEC «Uranium geology» in National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University and by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in the accredited chemical analysis center «Plazma» (Tomsk). Results. Mercury content in epiphytic lichens in reserved southern territories and park zones of cities in central, eastern and near treatment facilities in southern-eastern regions of Crimea Republic varied from 0,054 to 0,306 mkg/g and did not differ from mercury level in background exposure on other territories of Russian Federation. At the same time there was an essential territorial heterogeneity of mercury content: in lichens from park zones of cities mercury content varied from 0,063 to 0,088 mkg/g, in mountainous and foothill areas of the southern Crimea it was twice higher. It can be explained by geomorphological and geochemical features of the Main ridge (deep breaks of orthogonal system with mercury ore occurrences and zones of geodynamic activity) and its barrier function for the air masses containing mercury sea aerosols. Besides, as it follows from the results of Convention LRTAP expert groups modeling, the significant contribution may be brought by Transboundary Air Pollution. The territorial heterogeneity of mercury content in lichens on conditionally background exposure territories together with intensive technological development of the Crimea dictate the necessity of the differentiated approach to ecological situation assessment in relation to such global and dangerous pollutant as mercury on different types of Crimea peninsular territories.

Keywords

• mercury
• lichens
• biosubstrate
• bioindicator
• crimean peninsula