Lichens as bioindicators in volcanic areas: Mt. Etna and Vulcano Island (Italy)

The aim of this paper is to verify whether lichens have the capacity to acc umulate atmospheric contaminators linked to volcanic activity. About 100 li chens were collected in 1994 and 1995 from two active volcanic areas in Ita ly: Mount Etna and Vulcano Island. Twenty-seven elements were analyzed for each individual lichen using Instrumental Neutronic Activation Analysis and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. Lichen composition reflects the contribution of the volcanic particulate material, and the two areas in vestigated can be distinguished on the basis of the concentration of some l ithophile elements. Moreover, the distribution in lichens of the elements ( As, Sb, Br, Pb) - derived from gas emissions (plume, fumaroles) - also show s different geochemical trends on Mt. Etna and Vulcano.