The multi-isotope biogeochemistry (S, C, N and Pb) of Hypogymnia physodes lichens: air quality approach in the Świętokrzyski National Park, Poland

Comparison of active and passive methods for atmospheric particulate matter collection: From case study to a useful biomonitoring tool

In this study active monitoring with the use of high volume aerosol sampler was conducted at the same time as biomonitoring with the use of lichens and spiderwebs. All of these monitoring tools were exposed to air pollution in Legnica city, a region of Cu-smelting in the SW Poland, which is well known for exceeding the environmental guidelines. Quantitative analysis was carried out for three of selected methods and concentrations of seven selected elements (Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Ni, As, Fe) were obtained. Concentrations found in lichens and in spiderwebs were directly compared and indicated significant differences between them, with higher amounts noted for spider webs. Then, in order to recognize the main pollution sources the principal component analysis was conducted and obtained results were compared. It resulted that spiderwebs and aerosol sampler, despite different mechanisms of accumulation, show similar sources of pollution - in this case - copper smelter. Additionally, the HYSPLIT trajectories and the correlations between metals in the aerosol samples also confirmed that this is the most probable source of pollution. This study can be considered innovative as these three air pollution monitoring methods were compared, which has never been conducted before, and their comparison gave satisfying results.

High spatial resolution assessment of air quality in urban centres using lichen carbon, nitrogen and sulfur contents and stable-isotope-ratio signatures

Air pollution and poor air quality is impacting human health globally and is a major cause of respiratory and cardiovascular disease and damage to human organ systems. Automated air quality monitoring stations continuously record airborne pollutant concentrations, but are restricted in number, costly to maintain and cannot document all spatial variability of airborne pollutants. Biomonitors, such as lichens, are commonly used as an inexpensive alternative to assess the degree of pollution and monitor air quality. However, only a few studies combined lichen carbon, nitrogen and sulfur contents, with their stable-isotope-ratio signatures (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and δ³⁴S values) to assess spatial variability of air quality and to 'fingerprint' potential pollution sources. In this study, a high-spatial resolution lichen biomonitoring approach (using Xanthoria parietina and Physcia spp.) was applied to the City of Manchester (UK), the centre of the urban conurbation Greater Manchester, including considerations of its urban characteristics (e.g., building heights and traffic statistics), to investigate finer spatial detail urban air quality. Lichen wt% N and δ¹⁵N signatures, combined with lichen nitrate (NO₃^-) and ammonium (NH₄⁺) concentrations, suggest a complex mixture of airborne NO_x and NH_x compounds across Manchester. In contrast, lichen S wt%, combined with δ³⁴S strongly suggest anthropogenic sulfur sources, whereas C wt% and δ¹³C signatures were not considered reliable indicators of atmospheric carbon emissions. Manchester's urban attributes were found to influence lichen pollutant loadings, suggesting deteriorated air quality in proximity to highly trafficked roads and densely built-up areas. Lichen elemental contents and stable-isotope-ratio signatures can be used to identify areas of poor air quality, particularly at locations not covered by automated air quality measurement stations. Therefore, lichen biomonitoring approaches provide a beneficial method to supplement automated monitoring stations and also to assess finer spatial variability of urban air quality.