• DOI:10.1007/BF01606564
• Corpus ID: 34943936

Lichens as monitors of aerial heavy metal pollutants in and around Kampala

@article{Nyangababo1987LichensAM,
  title={Lichens as monitors of aerial heavy metal pollutants in and around Kampala},
  author={J. T. Nyangababo},
  journal={Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology},
  year={1987},
  volume={38},
  pages={91-95}
}

• J. T. Nyangababo
• Published 1987
• Environmental Science
• Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

The use of ion exchange resins and biological materials has aroused much interest in the search for inexpensive devices for monitoring pollution. Recent investigators have shown that plants themselves may be used as indicators of aerial fallout of heavy metals. Other workers have pursued the concept of using biological materials still further, by using mosses as indicators of aerial metal depositions. Lichens possess remarkable ion-exchange properties similar to many ion-exchange resins and are therefore suitable for the collection and retention of airborne metals. Lichens have been shown to be good indicators of pollution level; a close correlation is usually found between the distribution pattern of lichen species and the trace metal content of the surrounding air. This study was undertaken to determine the degree of contamination of the Kampala, Uganda environment by heavy metals from industries and motor traffic by using lichens as and indicator device. One type of lichen species (Calyrneferes usambaricum) was used as the test plant.