ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Using Calcicolous and Corticolous Lichens to Assess Lead and Cadmium Air Pollution of the Moroccan Atlantic Coast Safi-Essaouira
 
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Cadi Ayyad University, Laboratory of Microorganisms Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Marrakech, Morocco
 
 
Submission date: 2018-11-03
 
 
Final revision date: 2019-01-02
 
 
Acceptance date: 2019-01-03
 
 
Online publication date: 2019-08-30
 
 
Publication date: 2019-12-09
 
 
Corresponding author
Essilmi Mohamed   

Laboratory of Microorganisms Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia,, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
 
 
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(1):779-787
 
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ABSTRACT
Air pollution by metallic trace elements (MTE) has evolved in recent years in Moroccan cities – especially those with significant industrial activities. Biological tools, especially the use of lichens as a bioindicator of heavy metal air pollution, have been receiving world-wide attention. This study aims to evaluate atmospheric pollution of the Moroccan Atlantic coastline Safi-Essaouira using lichen as monitors of atmospheric metal contamination. Thus, two trace elements (lead and cadmium) were analysed through biomonitoring by two calcicolous lichens, Xanthoria calcicola and Ramalina pollinaria, and two corticoulous lichens, Xanthoria parietina and Ramalina lacera. The results show that the concentrations of the two trace elements in lichen samples were relatively higher in urban and industrial sites than in rural sites. The maximum lead levels were 30.18 mg/kg, 4.36 mg/kg, 9.79 mg/kg and 3.35 mg/kg respectively in Xanthoria calcicola, Ramalina pollinaria, Xanthoria parietina and Ramalina lacera. The maximum cadmium levels were 0.53 mg/kg, 0.19 mg/kg, 0.58 mg/kg and 0.37 mg/kg respectively in Xanthoria calcicola, Ramalina pollinaria, Xanthoria parietina and Ramalina lacera. Three levels of air quality have been deduced in the studied area: poor air quality in the industrial site of Safi city, medium air quality in peri-urban areas, and good air quality in rural sites.
eISSN:2083-5906
ISSN:1230-1485
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