Heavy Metal Accumulation in Pyxine cocoes (Sw.) Nyl. Transplanted at Kolkata City, West Bengal, India

A foliose lichen Pyxine cocoes (Sw.) Nyl., was transplanted at ten biomonitoring sites in Kolkata city of West Bengal for 30 days. Concentration of heavy metals Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Fe and Pb accumulated in lichen were determined. The result indicates an enhanced concentration of most of the metals in the transplanted samples than the control. Two heavy metals Cd and Pb were not detected in the samples, while Cr accumulated in lower (3.3±0.3 to 15.9±0.2 μg g-1) and Fe in higher concentrations (2958.2±0.9 to 4690.4±0.7 μg g-1). The concentration of Zn ranged from 47.1±0.6 to 114.0±0.5 μg g-1, Cu 3.4±0.3 to 38.7±0.6 μg g-1 and Ni 31.2±0.3 to 81.3±0.8 μg g-1. The lichen transplanted in the inner zone of the city with congested roads and heavy vehicular movements accumulated comparatively higher levels of most of the metals than at the sites situated in outer zone of the city. According to the concentration of heavy metals accumulated in lichen, it can be concluded that Jadabpur and Esplanade area are highly polluted, while BBD Bagh and Dum Dum Airport areas are less polluted