Chemical-Physiological Analysis in the Biomonitor Punctelia Hypoleucites Transplanted to Bajo de la Alumbrera Mine and Nearby Towns, Catamarca, Argentina

HERNÁNDEZ, JUAN MARTÍN; ALVAREZ, ROCÍO; RODRIGUEZ, JUAN MANUEL; MICAELA JALABERT; CAÑAS, MARTHA SUSANA

Valdivia

Congreso; SETAC Latin America 14th Biennial Meeting; 2021

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)

In Bajo de la Alumbrera (open pit mine of Cu, Au and Mo, located inCatamarca, Argentina) and in three nearby towns, Puncteliahypoleucites (Nyl.) Krog (lichenized Ascomycete) was transplanted inorder to evaluate its chemical-physiological response to mining activityexposure. Lichen material was collected at a site considered pristine(control site, C) and transplanted in polyester mesh bags to 10 sites: 6inside the mine (DM), 3 outside the company boundaries in nearbytowns (FM) and at C site (3 bags per site). After 3 months of exposure,parameters used in lichens as biomarkers of air quality were measured inthe samples: chlorophylls a and b, phaeophytins a and b, carotenoids,total soluble phenolic compounds (TSPC), malondialdehyde (MDA),sulfur (S), lecanoric acid, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC)and percent of antioxidant capacity (%AC). Phaeo. a/Chl. a, Chl. b/Chl.a and carotenoids/Total Chl. ratios were also calculated. Part of freshmaterial without transplanting was also analyzed as a basal sample (B).Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to data obtained. Bycomparison B vs. C, a significant decrease of Chl. a, Phaeo. a and sulfurconcentrations as well as an increase of Chl. b/Chl. a index were foundin transplanted lichens, indicating stress due to transplant. On the otherhand, significantly lower values of carotenoid, lecanoric acid, TSPCconcentrations and carotenoid/Total Chl. ratio were observed in thallitransplanted to DM sites compared to FM sites. Likewise, in DM sites,thalli showed significantly lower values of carotenoid concentration, andhigher values of Chl. b/Chl. a index and S concentration than in FMsites. TEAC and %AC showed no effect. These results would beevidence that, although in P. hypoleucites the antioxidant response isassociated with exposure in sites located outside the mining company, inDM sites there was an accumulation of sulfur in thalli accompanied bylow carotenoid concentration and imbalances in chlorophyll levels thatdenote pollution stress. Therefore, these parameters would be suitable asbiomarkers for the use of this species as a biomonitor of air qualityrelated to open-pit mining in Catamarca