title: Tracking the Spatial Fate of PCDD/F Emissions from a Cement Plant by Using Lichens as Environmental Biomonitors.
abstract: In an area with multiple sources of air pollution, it is difficult to evaluate the spatial impact of a minor source. Here, we describe the use of lichens to track minor sources of air pollution. The method was tested by transplanting lichens from a background area to the vicinity of a cement manufacturing plant that uses alternative fuel and is located in a Natural Park in an area surrounded by other important sources of pollution. After 7 months of exposure, the lichens were collected and analyzed for 17 PCDD/F congeners. The PCDD/F profiles of the exposed lichens were dominated by TCDF (50%) and OCDD (38%), which matched the profile of the emissions from the cement plant. The similarity in the profiles was greatest for lichens located northeast of the plant (i.e., in the direction of the prevailing winds during the study period), allowing us to evaluate the spatial impact of this source. The best match was found for sites located on the tops of mountains whose slopes faced the cement plant. Some of the sites with highest influence of the cement plant were the ones with the highest concentrations, whereas others were not. Thus, our newly developed lichen-based method provides a tool for tracking the spatial fate of industrially emitted PCDD/Fs regardless of their concentrations. The results showed that the method can be used to validate deposition models for PCDD/F industrial emissions in sites with several sources and characterized by complex orography.
authors.affiliation: cE3c, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, FCUL , Campo Grande, Bloco C2, Piso 5, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Augusto
authors.affiliation: cE3c, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, FCUL , Campo Grande, Bloco C2, Piso 5, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.|Centro de Recursos Naturais e Ambiente, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa (CERENA-IST-UL) , Lisboa, 1649-004 Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pinho
authors.affiliation: cE3c, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, FCUL , Campo Grande, Bloco C2, Piso 5, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Secil Companhia Geral de Cal e Cimento , Lisboa, 1600-079 Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Botelho
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Alameda da Universidade , Lisboa, 1649-013 Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palma-Oliveira
authors.affiliation: cE3c, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, FCUL , Campo Grande, Bloco C2, Piso 5, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Branquinho
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003252:Construction Materials; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005843:Geography; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D008011:Lichens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D011174:Portugal
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001572:Benzofurans; D007220:Industrial Waste; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins