title: Magnetic properties and element concentrations in lichens exposed to airborne pollutants released during cement production.
abstract: The content of selected elements (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, Ti, V and Zn) was measured in samples of the lichen Evernia prunastri exposed for 30, 90 and 180 days around a cement mill, limestone and basalt quarries and urban and agricultural areas in SW Slovakia. Lichens transplanted around the investigated quarries and the cement mill rapidly (30 days) reflected the deposition of dust-associated elements, namely Ca (at the cement mill and the limestone quarry) and Fe, Ti and V (around the cement mill and the basalt quarry), and their content remained significantly higher throughout the whole period (30-180 days) with respect to the surrounding environment. Airborne pollutants (such as S) progressively increased in the study area from 30 to 180 days. The magnetic properties of lichen transplants exposed for 180 days have been characterized and compared with those of native lichens (Xanthoria parietina) and neighbouring bark, soil and rock samples, in order to test the suitability of native and transplanted samples as air pollution magnetic biomonitors. The magnetic mineralogy was homogeneous in all samples, with the exception of the samples from the basalt quarry. The transplants showed excellent correlations between the saturation remanent magnetization (Mrs) and the content of Fe. Native samples had a similar magnetic signature, but the values of the concentration-dependent magnetic parameters were up to two orders of magnitude higher, reflecting higher concentrations of magnetic particles. The concentrations of As, Ca and Cr in lichens correlated with Mrs values after neglecting the samples from the basalt quarry, which showed distinct magnetic properties, suggesting the cement mill as a likely source. Conversely, Ti and Mn were mostly (but not exclusively) associated with dust from the basalt quarry. It is suggested that the natural geological characteristics of the substrate may strongly affect the magnetic properties of lichen thalli. Taking this into account, the results of this study point out the suitability of lichens as air pollution magnetic biomonitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy. paoli4@unisi.it.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5479-6428
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paoli
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84523, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guttová
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sagnotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84523, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lackovičová
authors.affiliation: Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84523, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Dušan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Senko
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loppi
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution; D060389:Construction Industry; D003252:Construction Materials; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D018154:Slovakia
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D008670:Metals
keywords: Air pollution; Bioindicators; Calcium; Dust; Environmental magnetism; Transplants