Uso de liquens e da técnica de espectrometria de fluorescência de raios-X por energia dispersiva para monitoramento da qualidade do ar

Abstract

Use of lichens and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer for air quality monitoring. The increasing concentration of particulate and gaseous materials such as metals and polycyclic compounds in atmospheric air underscores the importance of monitoring systems. Among the biomonitores are highlights the lichens, whose morphological and physiological characteristics allow the accumulation of elements. In this study was evaluated the air quality in the most densely populated urban area in Frederico Westphalen, by the monitoring of chemical elements, including heavy metals and sulfur, in the lichens of Parmotrema. There were analyzed samples of lichens from the preserved area of the interference of urban pollutants and lichens which developed naturally in the urban perimeter. The analytical determinations were carried out by an Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer. The highest concentration of the analyzed elements were found in a sample collected near to the dependences of a university, around downtown of Frederico Westphalen and near to the main clover of access to the city along the BR 386. These places are characterized by heavy vehicular traffic. Compared to lichens taken from a preserved area, the samples from the urban area had a higher accumulation of elements, reaching 237% higher concentrations of Ca at the sampling point 1 and 42% of S at the sampling point 4.