Multi-Element Including Rare Earth Content of Lichens, Bark, Soils, and Waste Following Industrial Closure

The fate of rare earth and other rare elements entering the environment is largely unknown. The lichen Hypogymnia physodes was transplanted over a 40 km long transect centered on a major metallurgical waste dump close to the Zlatna town center two weeks after smelter closure. Lichens, bark, soil, an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2006-08, Vol.40 (15), p.4599-4604
Main Authors: Rusu, Ana-Maria, Chimonides, P. D. James, Jones, Gary C, Garcia-Sanchez, Raquel, Purvis, O. William
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air Pollutants, Occupational - analysis
Applied sciences
Comparative studies
Contamination
Copper industry
Ecosystem
Exact sciences and technology
Global environmental pollution
Hypogymnia physodes
Industrial Waste - analysis
Lichens
Lichens - chemistry
Metallurgy
Metals
Metals, Rare Earth - isolation & purification
Pollution
Romania
Soil - analysis
Soil Pollutants - analysis
Trees - chemistry
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Summary:The fate of rare earth and other rare elements entering the environment is largely unknown. The lichen Hypogymnia physodes was transplanted over a 40 km long transect centered on a major metallurgical waste dump close to the Zlatna town center two weeks after smelter closure. Lichens, bark, soil, and waste dump materials were analyzed for 56 elements (including REE). Lichen and bark multi-element compositions were alike, reflecting fixation of elements of environmental concern and the ability for tree canopies to concentrate substances leading to enhanced deposition to both lichens and bark. Higher REE enrichment in lichens than in soil confirm efficient fixation in lichens. The negative europium anomaly in lichens and soil, similar to that in upper crust, confirm a strong crustal influence on lichen signatures across the transect area. Multi-element analysis supports the view that epiphytic lichens, unlike trees, are not influenced by lower groundwater, and they are excellent indicators for REE and other rare elements entering the surface environment, difficult to detect by conventional means.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es060281w