Epiphytic lichens as indicators of atmospheric pollution from industrial sources.

Industrial activities are important sources of atmospheric pollution worldwide. The elemental content in lichens was measured and analyzed with respect to the dominant wind direction and distance from pollution sources. In direction of the dominant winds, the content of Fe decreased with distance from the pollution source, which was a steel works situated in the flat country. Otherwise, in direction of the dominant winds, the content of Mn increased depending on the circumferences of trees found at various distances from the pollution sources. Older trees represented valuable indicators of elemental bioaccumulation over time. It was confirmed that geomorphology of the studied areas, dominant wind direction and older trees played an important role in the elemental bioaccumulation in lichens along the spatial gradient. Therefore, epiphytic lichens are regarded as valuable indicators in monitoring of environmental pollution in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]