Lichens as biomonitors of heavy metal pollution

M. TUDINO; M. CONTI

Comprehensive Analytical Chemistry

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Año: 2016; p. 117 - 145

Theability of lichens to accumulate different air pollutants beyond their needs inline with the atmospheric levels, has conducted to their widely acceptance asbiomonitors of inorganic and organic air pollution. Eitherby determining the concentration of accumulated pollutants or tracking fordamages in their health promoted by pollutants, lichens are used forenvironmental assessment worldwide.In thischapter we review the state-of-the-art on the use of lichens as biomonitors ofheavy metal pollution considering new findings and applications in recentyears. In order to aim on the acquiring of reliable results in inorganic airpollution using lichens, we critically review different alternatives of samplecollection and treatment, analytical determination and data analysis forcarrying out biomonitoring studies.In this context themain features of lichens as metal bioaccumulators and the related analyticalproblems in their use are debated