Elemental composition of the bioindicator Parmotrema austrosinense transplanted to the city of Malargüe (Mendoza, Argentina)

CAÑAS, MARTHA SUSANA; JASAN, RAQUEL CLARA; PAPÚ OSCAR; HERNÁNDEZ, JUAN MARTÍN; INVERNIZZI, R

Buenos Aires

Congreso; SETAC Latin America 11th Biennial Meeting; 2015

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

The lichen Parmotrema austrosinense (Zahlbr.) Hale was used as a bioindicatorof air quality in the city of Malargüe (Mendoza, Argentina), in order to assess the influence of potential emission sources present in the city. In March 2014, thalli were collected in a shortly anthropized area and transplanted in bags to the collection area (control samples) and to seven sites in the city (urban samples. After three months of exposure, multielemental content was analyzed byInstrumental Neutron Activation Analysis. In urban samples, numerous positivecorrelations between elements were detected (Pearson`s Correlation, p < 0,05).Particularly, associations between the Rare Earth Elements (La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb,Yb, Lu), As, Br, Fe, Cs, Sc, Hf, Rb, Th and U, allow us to infer a commongeochemical origin for these elements. Through an accumulation index (E/C), itwas determined that Ca content in urban samples is related to the activity of agypsum quarry located on the outskirts. Likewise, the E/C showed anaccumulation of Sb in lichens at all urban sampling sites. The highest values ofSb correspond to samples located in the center of the city, probably due to traffic.The greatest concentration of this element in samples of Malargüe with respectto the control samples (ANOVA, p < 0.05) allows also to infer a geochemicalorigin for this element, probably associated with volcanic emissions in theAndean Mountains. Other sources of urban air pollutants in Malargüe were notdetected.