title: Tillandsia usneoides: a successful alternative for biomonitoring changes in air quality due to a new highway in São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: Tillandsia usneoides is an aerial epiphytic bromeliad that absorbs water and nutrients directly from the atmosphere by scales covering its surface. We expanded the use of this species as a broader biomonitor based on chemical and structural markers to detect changes in air quality. The usefulness of such comprehensive approach was tested during the construction and opening of a highway (SP-21) in São Paulo State, Brazil. The biomonitoring study was performed from 2009 to 2012, thus comprising the period during construction and after the highway inauguration. Metal accumulation and structural alterations were assessed, in addition to microscopy analyses to understand the metal chelation in plant tissues and to assess the causes of alterations in the number and shape of scale cells. Altogether, our analyses support the use of this species as a wide biomonitor of air quality in urbanized areas.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Rua Arcturus 03, Jardim Antares, São Bernardo do Campo, 09606-070, SP, Brazil. cardoso.poliana@ufabc.edu.br.
authors.forename: Poliana
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cardoso-Gustavson
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Vegetal e Meio Ambiente, Instituto de Botânica, Av. Miguel Stefano 3687, Água Funda, 04301-902, SP, Brazil. fernandes.francinef@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francine Faia
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Anatomia, Instituto de Botânica, Av. Miguel Stefano 3687, Água Funda, 04301-902, SP, Brazil. ealves@ibot.sp.gov.br.
authors.forename: Edenise Segala
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Anatomia, Instituto de Botânica, Av. Miguel Stefano 3687, Água Funda, 04301-902, SP, Brazil. marip.victorio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariana Pereira
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Victorio
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Vegetal e Meio Ambiente, Instituto de Botânica, Av. Miguel Stefano 3687, Água Funda, 04301-902, SP, Brazil. bmourabio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Barbara Baesso
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Anatomia, Instituto de Botânica, Av. Miguel Stefano 3687, Água Funda, 04301-902, SP, Brazil. mmingos@superig.com.br.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Domingos
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Análise por Ativação com Nêutrons, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2242, 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. calbuuquerque@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Caroline Albuquerque
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Mestrado em Cidades Inteligentes e Sustentáveis, Universidade Nove de Julho, Av. Francisco Matarazzo, 612, prédio C, Água Branca, 05001 100, SP, Brazil. aportellar@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Andreza Portella
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa em Anatomia, Instituto de Botânica, Av. Miguel Stefano 3687, Água Funda, 04301-902, SP, Brazil. ccnievola@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Catarina Carvalho
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Nievola
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Análise por Ativação com Nêutrons, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2242, 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. anamaria@ipen.br.
authors.forename: Ana Maria G
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D001272:Atmosphere; D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D031232:Tillandsia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants
keywords: Atmospheric pollution; Bromeliaceae; Instrumental neutron activation analysis; Metal atmospheric pollution; Mutagenesis; Scale cells