Patterns of traffic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollution in mountain areas can be revealed by lichen biomonitoring: a case study in the Dolomites (Eastern Italian Alps).
In mountain areas of touristic interest the evaluation of the impact of human activities is crucial for ensuring long-term conservation of ecosystem biodiversity, functions and services. This study aimed at verifying the biological impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions due to traffic along the roads leading to seven passes of the Dolomites (SE Alps), which were recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thalli of the epiphytic lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea, collected at increasing distances from the roads, were used as biomonitors. Our study revealed a gradient of decreasing PAH pollution within 300 m from the roads. Differences among passes were evident mainly for samples collected nearest to the roads, but PAH concentrations at 300 m were almost always higher than those of undisturbed reference sites, indicating that traffic PAH pollution may impact natural ecosystems and lichen diversity at relatively long distances from the emission source.
Università degli Studi di Trieste, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Via Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy; Università degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Biologia, Via Bassi 58/B, I-35121 Padova, Italy. Electronic address: junasc@libero.it.
Juri
J
Nascimbene
Università degli Studi di Trieste, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Via Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy.
Mauro
M
Tretiach
Università degli Studi di Pavia, Centro Grandi Strumenti, Via Bassi 21, I-27100 Pavia, Italy.
Federica
F
Corana
Università degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Biologia, Via Bassi 58/B, I-35121 Padova, Italy.
Fiorella
F
Lo Schiavo
Università degli Studi di Trieste, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Via Giorgieri 10, I-34127 Trieste, Italy.
Danijela
D
Kodnik
Università degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-forestali, Viale dell'Università 16, I-35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.
Matteo
M
Dainese
Università degli Studi di Pavia, Centro Grandi Strumenti, Via Bassi 21, I-27100 Pavia, Italy.
Barbara
B
Mannucci
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007558:Italy; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
Air pollution; Bioaccumulation; Epiphytic lichens; PAH pollutants