Heavy metal accumulation in lichens and soils a long main road from the north to the south parts of Erbil governorate

Abstract

In 2012 during wet season (March, April, May) and dry season (July, August, September, October), ten locations were selected from extra north to extra south of Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq to determine some roadside pollutants in lichens and soils. The most abundant species were Collema cristatum, Diploschistes scruposus, Lecanora dispersa, Lecanora murales, Pertusaria flavicunda, Placidium lacinulatum, Thelomma californicum and Verrucaria maura. In lichens pH, total nitrogen and sulfate (SO4) concentration were at the range of 6.96 - 8.05, 1.86 - 6.05ppm and 39 - 79ppm, respectively. Among heavy metals the concentration of Cd Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn levels were ranged from 0.79 to 1.56ppm, 70.21 - 293.57ppm, 26.44 - 38.23ppm, 12383.34 - 16948.32ppm, 228.54 - 583.04ppm and 24.30 - 2840.40ppm respectively. In studied soils, the concentration of above mentioned parameters were at level of normal range. There were a correlation between concentrations of studied pollutants in soil and lichens. The results of location pollution accumulation (LPA) revealed that Dibaga location was the most polluted area, while Barzewa location was the least polluted location. Based on the species pollutant accumulation (SPA), the best indicators for air quality monitoring assessment was Collema cristatum, Licanora muralis.