Journal of Environmental Biology

Determination of atmospheric heavy metals using two lichen

species in Katni and Rewa cities, India

Author Details

Rajesh Bajpai

Lichenology Laboratory, National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR), Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow - 226 001, India

G.K. Mishra

Lichenology Laboratory, National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR), Rana Pratap Marg ?Lucknow - 226 001, India

S. Mohabe

Lichenology Laboratory, National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR), Rana Pratap Marg ?Lucknow - 226 001, India

Dalip K.Upreti

(Corresponding author)

Lichenology Laboratory, National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR), Rana Pratap Marg ?Lucknow - 226 001, India

e-mail: upretidk@rediffmail.com

S. Nayaka

Lichenology Laboratory, National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR), Rana Pratap Marg ?Lucknow - 226 001, India

Publication Data

Paper received:

20 November 2009

Revised received:

28 April 2010

Accepted:

11 May 2010

Abstract

A biomonitoring study was conducted to assess the levels of atmospheric heavy metal pollution in Katni and Rewa cities of Madhya Pradesh, state in central India. The Pyxine cocoes and Phaeophyscia hispidula, two epiphytic foliose lichen were used as bioindicators in the present study and seven metals (As, Al, Cd, Cr, Fe, Zn, Pb) were analyzed in naturally growing thallus. The concentrations of these metals was observed to be in higher range as maximum values of Al, Cd, Cr and Zn were reported from the lichen samples from Rewa city which was 561.8?2.4, 6.8?0.8, 35.2?1.4, 214.6?2.0 ?g g^-1 dry weight respectively. Whereas As, Fe and Pb were reported maximum in the lichen samples collected from Katni city areas with 33.4?0.05, 689.4?2.6, 13.3?0.5 ?g g^-1 dry weight respectively. However the accumulation of Cd and Pb from both the cities are more or less similar in concentration. The selectivity sequence of metals were Fe>Al>Zn>As>Cr>Pb>Cd in Katni city, and Al>Fe>Zn>Cr>As>Pb>Cd in Rewa city. The findings of this study indicates that extent of heavy metal pollution in the atmosphere of the two cities which may lead to adverse health affects.

Key words

Biomonitoring, Heavy metal pollution, Lichen, Bioindicator

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