Traffic pollution monitoring using lichens as bioaccumulators of heavy metals and policyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

This research dealt with the study of the concentrations of some heavy meta ls, namely Al, As, Cd, Co. Cr. Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, and some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in thalli of the epiphytic lichen. Physica adscendens, in six areas of the Rieti town, as influenced by different traffic polluti on levels. The results obtained showed a correlation between vehicular traffic intensi ty and concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Al, Fe, Cr, Ni and Zn) and PAHs i n thalli of Physcia adscendens. However, no significant correlations were f ound between heavy metals content and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon conce ntrations in the lichen thalli, suggesting a different response of the lich ens to the presence of high levels of heavy metals and PAHs in the ambient air.