The multi-isotope biogeochemistry (S, C, N and Pb) of <i>Hypogymnia physodes</i> lichens: air quality approach in the Świętokrzyski National Park, Poland

Ciężka, Monika; Górka, Maciej; Stojanowska, Agnieszka; Modelska, Magdalena; Łubek, Anna; Wîdory, David

doi:10.1080/10256016.2022.2110591

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…water and light availability), physiological and/or biochemical processes (e.g. assimilation, metabolism and biosynthesis; Batts et al 2004 ; Beck and Mayr 2012 ; Biazrov 2012 ; Ciężka et al 2022 ; Galimov 2000 ; Hoefs 2009 ; Lee et al 2009 ), as well as other atmospheric pollutants. For instance, Batts et al ( 2004 ) reported decreasing δ 13 C with increasing pollution levels, i.e.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

High spatial resolution assessment of air quality in urban centres using lichen carbon, nitrogen and sulfur contents and stable-isotope-ratio signatures

Niepsch

Clarke

Newton

et al. 2023

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Air pollution and poor air quality is impacting human health globally and is a major cause of respiratory and cardiovascular disease and damage to human organ systems. Automated air quality monitoring stations continuously record airborne pollutant concentrations, but are restricted in number, costly to maintain and cannot document all spatial variability of airborne pollutants. Biomonitors, such as lichens, are commonly used as an inexpensive alternative to assess the degree of pollution and monitor air quality. However, only a few studies combined lichen carbon, nitrogen and sulfur contents, with their stable-isotope-ratio signatures (δ13C, δ15N and δ34S values) to assess spatial variability of air quality and to ‘fingerprint’ potential pollution sources. In this study, a high-spatial resolution lichen biomonitoring approach (using Xanthoria parietina and Physcia spp.) was applied to the City of Manchester (UK), the centre of the urban conurbation Greater Manchester, including considerations of its urban characteristics (e.g., building heights and traffic statistics), to investigate finer spatial detail urban air quality. Lichen wt% N and δ15N signatures, combined with lichen nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) concentrations, suggest a complex mixture of airborne NOx and NHx compounds across Manchester. In contrast, lichen S wt%, combined with δ34S strongly suggest anthropogenic sulfur sources, whereas C wt% and δ13C signatures were not considered reliable indicators of atmospheric carbon emissions. Manchester’s urban attributes were found to influence lichen pollutant loadings, suggesting deteriorated air quality in proximity to highly trafficked roads and densely built-up areas. Lichen elemental contents and stable-isotope-ratio signatures can be used to identify areas of poor air quality, particularly at locations not covered by automated air quality measurement stations. Therefore, lichen biomonitoring approaches provide a beneficial method to supplement automated monitoring stations and also to assess finer spatial variability of urban air quality. Graphical abstract

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