title: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metals in transplanted lichen (Pseudovernia furfuracea) at sites adjacent to a solid-waste landfill in central Italy.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the airborne contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and some heavy metals (arsenic [As], cadmium [Cd], chromium [Cr], copper [Cu], nickel [Ni], lead [Pb], and zinc [Zn]) of different pollution scenarios around a solid-waste landfill in central Italy using the lichen Pseudovernia furfuracea as a monitoring tool. For this purpose, eight stations around a landfill characterized by different air pollution sources (industrial, agricultural, residential areas, and roads with different traffic intensities), together with three stations far from the landfill (control areas), were monitored using a set of 22 lichen samples (11 samples analysed for PAHs and metals after 4 months, and 11 samples analysed for metals after 8 months). After 4 months of exposure, the lichen content of all of the analysed elements was greater than that in the pre-exposed lichens. In addition, the Cu and Pb concentration after 8 months was greater than the level after 4 months. The order of metal concentration was Zn > Pb > Cu (or Cu > Pb) > Cr > Ni > As > Cd in all cases. The range of ∑11PAHs concentration was 634-1,371 ng/g dw (three to seven times greater than the amount in the pre-exposed lichens). The ∑11PAHs were dominated (>70 %) by compounds with three aromatic rings. The comparison of the levels of air pollutants among the monitored stations shows nonrelevant spatial patterns between the landfill stations and the control areas; the levels of PAHs and metals found in the lichen samples around the landfill seemed to be more related to the general diffusion of these pollutants in that area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy, carmela.protano@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Protano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guidotti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Owczarek
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fantozzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blasi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vitali
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007558:Italy; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D008670:Metals; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons