BIOMONITORING OF THE ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION USING LICHEN BAGS IN TWO ITALIAN CITIES: POTENZA AND MATERA

The atmospheric pollution is a serious problem due to the expansion of industrial area, increasing number of vehicles and population density. Metal traces from atmospheric deposition can be evaluated by standard biomonitoring agents such as lichens, which are species also used as indicators of environmental health. Air pollution studies using biomonitors represent an important contribution and an interesting and economic alternative to those performed by direct measurements of the contaminant elements. This work presents the results of a bioaccumulation investigation of trace elements in two Italian cities, Potenza and Matera, characterized by different atmospheric conditions and anthropic activities. The lichens, after 6 months of exposition in nylon bags, were analysed by using Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry ICP–MS. The levels found for aluminium, zinc and copper were higher in both cities: in Potenza the levels of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are prevailing while in Matera a widespread contamination of aluminium (Al) was detected