Heavy metals in Parmelia sulcata collected in the neighborhood of a coal-fired power station.
The epiphytic lichen Parmelia sulcata was collected in the neighborhood of a Portuguese coal-fired power station (Sines coal power station) as monitor for heavy metal air pollution. A study of the metal contents variability along 1991 and 1992 was performed. The heavy metals Ag, As, Br, Co, Cr, Fe, Hg, Sb, Se, and Zn were determined by k0-based instrumental neutron activation analysis. The concentrations found in 1991 and 1992 show an accumulating process of Co and Fe (approximately 5%/mo) and of Cr and Sb (approximately 7%/mo). Low accumulation is observed for Ag, Se, and Zn (approximately 2%/mo), and no concentration variation is observed for As, Br, and Hg. It is concluded that the metal accumulation observed is the result of the nearby ash and coal deposits.
Freitas
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MC
Instituto Nacional de Engenharia e Tecnologia Industrial (INETI), Departamento de Química, Sacavém, Portugal.
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D003031:Coal; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D009501:Neutron Activation Analysis; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry; D011174:Portugal; D011210:Power Plants
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D003031:Coal; D008670:Metals