Survey of elemental concentrations in lichen samples collected from Sao Paulo State

Samples of the lichen Canoparmelia texana collected in seven different site s of Sao Paulo State and one site of the Parana State were analysed by neut ron activation analysis in order to obtain information on the air quality i n these regions and also to select a region of interest for the evaluation of baseline level of elements in lichen species. Concentrations of the elem ents Al, As, Br, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cs, Fe, Hf, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Ti, Th, U, V, Zn and lanthanides were determined and a preliminary compari sons was made between the results obtained for samples collected in differe nt sites.