Lichens as bio-monitors of trace-elements in Central and Eastern France

Lichens (105 samples, mainly P. sulcata and X. parietina) have been used to monitor As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu. Mg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in Burgundy and in the East of France. When the industrial environment seemed to justify it, other elements were also looked for, such as Ag, Sn and V. Research was carried out on areas with little or moderate pollution and supplemented by studies on three “hot spots” with health problems. Record and background concentrations in lichens are presented as well as the ratios between those values. In the case of lead, the concentrations in lichens are compared with the results in blood tests.