Title: Spatial mapping of the city of Lisbon using biomonitors

Authors: Ana M.J. Cruz; Maria do Carmo Freitas; Nuno Canha; Tona G. Verburg; Susana Marta Almeida; Hubert Th. Wolterbeek

Addresses: Oliveira do Hospital College of Technology and Management, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Rua General Santos Costa, 3400-124 Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal. ' Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear – Instituto Superior Técnico, Unidade de Reactores e Segurança Nuclear, Estrada Nacional 10, 2686-953 Sacavém, Portugal. ' Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear – Instituto Superior Técnico, Unidade de Reactores e Segurança Nuclear, Estrada Nacional 10, 2686-953 Sacavém, Portugal. ' Department of Radiation, Radionuclides & Reactors, Section RIH (Radiation and Isotopes in Health), Faculty of Applied Sciences, Technical University of Delft, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlands. ' Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear – Instituto Superior Técnico, Unidade de Reactores e Segurança NuclearEstrada Nacional 10, 2686-953 Sacavém, Portugal. ' Department of Radiation, Radionuclides & Reactors, Section RIH (Radiation and Isotopes in Health), Faculty of Applied Sciences, Technical University of Delft, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlands

Abstract: Biomonitoring is used to study the performance of a single air sampler as representing air elemental concentrations in Lisbon. A database of chemical elements' concentrations was obtained by analysing exposed lichens and bark, hung on courtyard trees of 22 Lisbon basic schools from January to May 2008 and June to October 2008 (winter and summer campaigns). Electric conductivity was also measured in lichens, as a sensitive indicator of lichen vitality and, indirectly, of air pollution. This work also enabled evaluation of stress effects in lichens as a result of transplanting from unpolluted to air-polluted areas, the adaptation of transplanted biomonitors into new meteorological and physical-chemical conditions, and the comparison of performance of both biomonitors.

Keywords: biomonitors; bark; lichen; neutron activation; chemical elements; spatial distribution; environmental pollution; air pollution; spatial mapping; Lisbon; Portugal; biomonitoring.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2012.046852

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2012 Vol.6 No.1, pp.1 - 17

Received: 19 Nov 2011
Accepted: 08 Dec 2011
Published online: 12 May 2012 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article