Trace metal levels in lichen samples from roadsides in East Black Sea region, Turkey.

Objective: To determine the metal contents of lichen species from East Black Sea region of Turkey for investigation of trace metal pollution sourced traffic.

Methods: The levels of copper, cadmium, lead, zinc, manganese, iron, chromium, nickel, cobalt, palladium in lichen samples collected from East Black Sea region of Turkey were determined by flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave digestion method. The accuracy of the method was corrected by standard reference material (NIST SRM IAEA-336 Lichen).

Results: The contents of investigated trace metals in lichen samples were 7.19-22.4 microg/g for copper, 0.10-0.64 microg/g for cadmium, 4.03-44.6 microg/g for lead, 14.5-41.8 microg/g for zinc, 25.8-208 microg/g for manganese, 331-436 microg/g for iron, 1.20-3.01 microg/g for chromium, 1.48-3.90 microg/g for nickel, 0.20-3.55 microg/g for cobalt, 0.11-0.64 microg/g for palladium. The results were compared with the literature values.

Conclusion: Some lichen species such as Xanthoparmelia conspersa, Xanthoria calcicola, Peltigera membranacea, and Physcia adscendens are accumulated trace metals at a high ratio.