Spatial distribution and heavy metal content of some bryophytes and lichens in relation to air pollution in Nigeria's Guinea Savanna Online publication date: Fri, 11-Jul-2008
by S.P. Bako, S. Afolabi, I.I. Funtua
International Journal of Environment and Pollution (IJEP), Vol. 33, No. 2/3, 2008
Abstract: Use of bio-indicators in monitoring environmental quality in the West African sub-region is limited. In a study to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of bryophytes and lichens in relation to air pollution in Nigeria, three species each of bryophytes (Calymperes palisotii, Erpodium coronatum, B. leptophyllum) and lichens (Parmelia tinctorum, Physcia sp. and Trentifolia sp.) were encountered. For categories of plants, the number of species (diversity) and frequency of occurrence increased as one moved further away from the source point. Accumulation patterns of 13 heavy metals (across species) were generally similar, with 50% or more of these being accumulated up to the level of 500 mg/kg or above. While metals like Cr, Co, Ni, Sr, Y, Cu, Pb and Br, were accumulated in consistently higher proportions, others like Zn, As, Rb and Se were in consistently lower proportions.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Environment and Pollution (IJEP):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook