title: The application of bio-indicators for the assessment of air pollution.
abstract: Levels of metals were assessed in topsoil, dust, leaves, grass, lichen and bark from the Kruger National Park using electrothermal atomic absorption techniques. It was found that dust, lichen and bark reflected the levels of air pollution better than grasses or leaves of trees. It is suggested that the difference in levels of accumulated metals in the bark or lichens could be used as an indicator of air pollution in remote areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Panichev
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: McCrindle
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D024301:Plant Bark; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D015415:Biomarkers; D019216:Metals, Heavy