title: Epilithic Lichen-Atmospheric Deposition Monitors of Trace Elements and Organohalogens?
abstract: Epilithic lichen (Xanthoria elegans in Canada, Lecanora muralis in Germany) were gathered from 17 locations in Ontario, Canada (from Lake Ontario to James Bay) and 43 locations in Germany (from the Alps to the North Sea and from the Baltic Sea to the Erzgebirge). Sample aliquots were digested in nitric acid and trace elements were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrom-etry techniques. The organohalogens were determined as absorbable organic halogens (AOXs) by coulometry. Concentration ranges from Germany for trace element samples and AOXs were determined. The lichen showed high spatial resolution in their element enrichment patterns. This allowed for differentiation between natural and anthropogenic dominance in ambient air concentrations. This biomonitoring method has proven to be very sensitive, fast, and reliable. No clear relationship could be found between trace element and AOX concentrations. The AOX values may reflect individual metabolic rates of the fungal partner in lichen symbionts.
authors.affiliation: a Interdisciplinary Environmental Research Center, Technical University and Bergakademie , Freiberg , Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matschullat
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Water Chemistry , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scharnweber
authors.affiliation: c Geological Institute, University of Kiel , Kiel , Germany.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garbe-Schönberg
authors.affiliation: d Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements , Geel , Belgium.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.affiliation: e State Museum of Natural History , Stuttgart , Germany.
authors.forename: Volkmar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wirth