Trace metal levels in lichen samples from roadsides in East Black Sea region, Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the metal contents of lichen species from East Black Sea region of Turkey for investigation of trace metal pollution sourced traffic.


METHODS
The levels of copper, cadmium, lead, zinc, manganese, iron, chromium, nickel, cobalt, palladium in lichen samples collected from East Black Sea region of Turkey were determined by flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave digestion method. The accuracy of the method was corrected by standard reference material (NIST SRM IAEA-336 Lichen).


RESULTS
The contents of investigated trace metals in lichen samples were 7.19-22.4 microg/g for copper, 0.10-0.64 microg/g for cadmium, 4.03-44.6 microg/g for lead, 14.5-41.8 microg/g for zinc, 25.8-208 microg/g for manganese, 331-436 microg/g for iron, 1.20-3.01 microg/g for chromium, 1.48-3.90 microg/g for nickel, 0.20-3.55 microg/g for cobalt, 0.11-0.64 microg/g for palladium. The results were compared with the literature values.


CONCLUSIONS
Some lichen species such as Xanthoparmelia conspersa, Xanthoria calcicola, Peltigera membranacea, and Physcia adscendens are accumulated trace metals at a high ratio.
Gaziosmanpasa University, Faculty of Science and Arts, Chemistry Department, 60250 Tokat, Turkey.
Ozgur Dogan
OD
Uluozlu
Kadir
K
Kinalioglu
Mustafa
M
Tuzen
Mustafa
M
Soylak
D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D014186:Transportation; D014421:Turkey
D019216:Metals, Heavy