The most widely used bioindicator is the lichen Hypogymnia physodes.
Bryophytes (mosses) have a particular sensitivity to air pollution. As a result, the
number of species of bryophytes has been greatly diminished in urban areas in
highly polluted industrial centers. Some species have disappeared, and others have
been reduced as a number of individuals (and biomass) and as a spreading area. For
example, in the Netherlands, 15% of groundbreaking species and 13% of epiphyte
species have disappeared over the last 100 years. Pleurozium schreberi, Hyloconium
splendens, and Hypnum cupressiforme have been used in a biomonitoring project for
eight-metal background pollution (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, V, and Zn) of the
Northern Europe. Radioactive elements are also accumulated in mosses more intense
than in higher plants. Thereby, Pleurozium schreberi was used to monitor La, Zn,
and other elements from nuclear tests, and species Ceratodon purpureus, Tortula
ruralis, and Bryum argenteum, for biomonitoring falls of
137 Cs after the accident at
Chernobyl. In the case of HMs, the following sequence of their toxicity for
bryophytes is established (it is similar to flowering plants): Hg > Pb > Cu > Cd
>Cr > Ni > Zn. Some species have a particularly high storage capacity of metals,
sometimes up to extremely high concentrations. For example, Hyloconium
splendens originating from a Cu mine has accumulated Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn in
concentration of 17320 ppm (compared to higher plants Picea 349.5 ppm, Clintonia
548.5 ppm in the same environment).
Higher Plants, Bioindicators for Heavy Metals For plants with flowers, grassy
species can be considered as accumulators. Among the most commonly known
metal accumulators are the following: Melandrium album, 4.286 μg/g; L. perenne,
1.683 μg/g; Plantago lanceolata, 1.547 μg/g; Lepidium draba, 1.437 μg/g; Polygonum aviculare, 1.190 μg/g; and Thlaspi, 1000–3500 μg/g (for Ni and Zn) (Hu et al.
2019).
Indicator Species Lolium perenne and L. multiflora are very suitable for use as
exposure indicators. These plants are common in parks, along roads, and on roads.
Besides HMs, they are indicators for S and F. Other grassy species used as
bioindicators for HMs are the following: Melandrium album for Pb; Thlaspi for Ni
and Zn; Solidago canadensis for Pb; Artemisia vulgaris, Calamagrostis epigejos,
Chelidonium majus, Plantago major, and Poa for HMs; Equisetum arvense as Hg
bioindicators in the area destroyed by the St. Helens volcano in the USA; Achillea
millefolium, Artemisia vulgaris, P. lanceolata, and Amaranthus retroflexus for V;
Hypericum perforatum, Hedera helix, and Urtica dioica for Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Hg;
and Vaccinium myrtillus and Vaccinium vitis-idaea for Cd, Fe, Mn, and P (Ji et al.
2018).
Deciduous Trees and Shrubs Tree leaves fix HMs from polluted areas (e.g., on the
roadside near plants) from both the soil and directly from the air. Sensitive species
are Betula pendula, Fraxinus excelsior, Sorbus aucuparia, Tilia cordata, and Malus
domestica. Accumulator indicators are species considered resistant: Elaeagnus
angustifolia, Populus canadensis, S. alba, and Sambucus nigra. Relatively resistant
104
M. Butu et al.
Bryophytes (mosses) have a particular sensitivity to air pollution. As a result, the
number of species of bryophytes has been greatly diminished in urban areas in
highly polluted industrial centers. Some species have disappeared, and others have
been reduced as a number of individuals (and biomass) and as a spreading area. For
example, in the Netherlands, 15% of groundbreaking species and 13% of epiphyte
species have disappeared over the last 100 years. Pleurozium schreberi, Hyloconium
splendens, and Hypnum cupressiforme have been used in a biomonitoring project for
eight-metal background pollution (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, V, and Zn) of the
Northern Europe. Radioactive elements are also accumulated in mosses more intense
than in higher plants. Thereby, Pleurozium schreberi was used to monitor La, Zn,
and other elements from nuclear tests, and species Ceratodon purpureus, Tortula
ruralis, and Bryum argenteum, for biomonitoring falls of
137 Cs after the accident at
Chernobyl. In the case of HMs, the following sequence of their toxicity for
bryophytes is established (it is similar to flowering plants): Hg > Pb > Cu > Cd
>Cr > Ni > Zn. Some species have a particularly high storage capacity of metals,
sometimes up to extremely high concentrations. For example, Hyloconium
splendens originating from a Cu mine has accumulated Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn in
concentration of 17320 ppm (compared to higher plants Picea 349.5 ppm, Clintonia
548.5 ppm in the same environment).
Higher Plants, Bioindicators for Heavy Metals For plants with flowers, grassy
species can be considered as accumulators. Among the most commonly known
metal accumulators are the following: Melandrium album, 4.286 μg/g; L. perenne,
1.683 μg/g; Plantago lanceolata, 1.547 μg/g; Lepidium draba, 1.437 μg/g; Polygonum aviculare, 1.190 μg/g; and Thlaspi, 1000–3500 μg/g (for Ni and Zn) (Hu et al.
2019).
Indicator Species Lolium perenne and L. multiflora are very suitable for use as
exposure indicators. These plants are common in parks, along roads, and on roads.
Besides HMs, they are indicators for S and F. Other grassy species used as
bioindicators for HMs are the following: Melandrium album for Pb; Thlaspi for Ni
and Zn; Solidago canadensis for Pb; Artemisia vulgaris, Calamagrostis epigejos,
Chelidonium majus, Plantago major, and Poa for HMs; Equisetum arvense as Hg
bioindicators in the area destroyed by the St. Helens volcano in the USA; Achillea
millefolium, Artemisia vulgaris, P. lanceolata, and Amaranthus retroflexus for V;
Hypericum perforatum, Hedera helix, and Urtica dioica for Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Hg;
and Vaccinium myrtillus and Vaccinium vitis-idaea for Cd, Fe, Mn, and P (Ji et al.
2018).
Deciduous Trees and Shrubs Tree leaves fix HMs from polluted areas (e.g., on the
roadside near plants) from both the soil and directly from the air. Sensitive species
are Betula pendula, Fraxinus excelsior, Sorbus aucuparia, Tilia cordata, and Malus
domestica. Accumulator indicators are species considered resistant: Elaeagnus
angustifolia, Populus canadensis, S. alba, and Sambucus nigra. Relatively resistant
104
M. Butu et al.