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 metals, 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 pollution levels. The results obtained showed a correlation between vehicular traffic intensity and concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Al, Fe, Cr, Ni and Zn) and PAHs in thalli of Physcia adscendens. However, no significant correlations were found between heavy metals content and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in the lichen thalli, suggesting a different response of the lichens to the presence of high levels of heavy metals and PAHs in the ambient air.