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Biogeochemical signatures were investigated in transplanted and native lichens near a major pollution source using sensitive multi-element chemical analysis. Transplants were established across a 60 km transect centred on the smelter town of Karabash, Ural Mountains, Russia. Statistically significant trends in element concentrations were recorded, some below one part per million. Fine metal particles are accumulated from pollution aerosols. Prolonged exposure may lead to cellular damage and enhanced accumulation or element loss. Pb isotope ratios are similar to those associated with airborne particles in Europe and Russia; an outlier near Kyshtym with a lower ratio indicates a source with a higher 235 U : 238 U ratio. The method is discrete, sensitive, able to detect short-term pollution episodes and useful for understanding element cycling, which is of critical importance for human and environmental health.

Transplants of the lichen Hypogymnia physodes, which is relatively tolerant to SO2 and heavy metals, were deployed for 3 months over a 60 km long SW-NE transect centered on a highly polluting Cu smelter and its adjoining town of Karabash, southern Urals, Russia. The abundance of 206Pb, 207Pb, 208Pb, and 204Pb were determined by MC-ICP-MS. The measurement of 204Pb revealed critical features, which would otherwise remain concealed: (i) The precise isotope ratios referenced to 204Pb allowed several different sources to be resolved even within the small area covered: (a) the obvious pollutant source of the Karabash Cu smelter; (b) two dispersed sources, likely to include soil with lower and different contributions of thorogenic and uranogenic lead; and (c) one anthropogenic source with higher contribution of 235U derived Pb. (ii) In part of the transect, the Pb isotope composition changed while the Pb concentrations remained the same. This indicates that the Pb content of the transplantation material from the background site was largely replaced and that the transplants provide a transient record reflecting a continuous accumulation and loss of environmental Pb, probably mainly in the form of extracellular particles. Overall, the method of lichen transplantation coupled with Pb isotope ratio determinations proved effective in assessing the usefulness of lichens in biomonitoring and in resolving different sources of atmospheric deposition.

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Industrialization in the former USSR caused widespread environmental damage, which is graphically illustrated in the South Urals mining region of west-central Russia. One of the most heavily polluted areas is the town of Karabash and its surrounding area, which has abandoned mines and a large active copper smelter close to its centre. The area is affected by effluents and gaseous and particulate emissions from the smelter, acid drainage from abandoned mines and leachates and dusts from waste dumps and tailings dams. This article outlines the methodologies employed under a 3 year instrumental- and bio-monitoring assessment of mining-related impacts in Karabash, designed to be sensitive to the natural setting and specific political, sociological and economic situation in the Ural mountains. The results of the preliminary, planning stage of the project are presented and discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

The effect of a copper-smelting plant on populations of Hypogymnia physodes and Tuckermanopsis sepincola was studied in the Middle Urals. A different population response was found between the two lichen species due to different life strategies. The pollution appears to decrease growth and developmental rate of H. physodes (a vegetatively reproducing strongly competitive species), resulting in a shift of population structure towards smaller, esorediate to low sorediate thalli. The background population of the sexually reproducing Tuckermanopsis sepincola consisted mainly of young, small thalli of a low fertility as a result of strong inter-species competition with H. physodes. At the polluted site, the sharp decrease in the abundance of H. physodes led to a shift in structure of the T. sepincola population towards larger and more fertile thalli. It may be concluded that T. sepincola benefits from air pollution by an indirect effect of the removal of a strong competitor, i.e. H. physodes.

O trabalho visa investigar a evolução dos conceitos de desenvolvimento sustentável e de sustentabilidade, ao longo das últimas duas décadas. A primeira parte do artigo procura descrever as bases teóricas da definição de sustentabilidade analisando os pensamentos de diferentes escolas sobre os problemas ambientais. Em seguida, as questões de indicadores de sustentabilidade e da mensuração de desenvolvimento sustentável foram consideradas inclusive o caso do Brasil. Em conclusão nós levantamos os problemas da sustentabilidade regional e local e apresentamos algumas generalizações críticas sobre assunto do trabalho.