Transplanted lichen <i>Hypogymnia physodes</i> as bioindicator of heavy metals and radionuclides air pollution in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The paper presents the results of Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb, Zn, and four radionuclides (²²⁶Ra,²³²Th, ¹³⁷Cs, and ⁴⁰K) determination in transplanted lichens after two, four, and six months of exposure. Lichens were sampled from the area of Mountain Igman in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and transplanted to two locations (Pofalići and Bjelave) in Sarajevo, the capital city of BiH. The total metals content was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Gamma spectrometry (GS) was used for radionuclide activity determination. Content of Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb an Zn in lichen after two, four, and six months of exposure ranged as follows: <LOD-0.61, <LOD-1.55, 3.85-8.08, 332.5-497.9, 19.68-31.65, 2.29-4.24, <LOD-10.30, 32.76-58.58 µg/g, respectively. Cr was not detected in exposed lichen samples. A very strong positive correlation for Cu-Cu, Cu-Fe, Cu-Pb, Cu-Zn, Ni-Ni and Fe-Fe was obtained in lichens, while a strong correlation was between Co-Zn, Co-Cu, Pb-Pb and Mn-Mn. The specific activity of ¹³⁷Cs ranged from 19.95 to 56.66 Bq/kg, while for ⁴⁰K ranged from 49.65 to 330.61 Bq/kg. The specific activity of ²²⁶Ra and ²³²Th was below the GS limit of detection.