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Potential of Epiphytic Lichen Pyxine cocoes, as an Indicator of Air Pollution in Kolkata, India

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The accumulation of trace elements in the thalli of epiphytic lichens can reveal levels of trace elements in the ambient air. This study assessed the trace elements in lichen species Pyxine cocoes found in the urban and peri-urban areas of Kolkata. Trace elemental analysis was carried out using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence and proton-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy. Variable levels of elements like Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cr, V and Pb, are detected in the thalli of P. cocoes collected from repressentative locations. Localization of trace elements in the thalli was confirmed by analysis using scanning electron microscope attached with EDX spectrometer. Several pollution indices such as enrichment factor, contamination factor (Cf) and pollution load index were estimated to evaluate the trace element contamination level of the ambient air at the sampling spots. PLI and Cf and values suggest deterioration or air quality that varies from moderate to high level of contamination. Ca, S, Pb, Sr and Cr, are highly enriched at urban sampling spots (1–9). High coefficient of variation values for Ca, S, Pb, Sr and Cr confirm their accumulation from local anthropogenic sources in the urban sampling spots (1–9). However, results of principal component analysis analysis have shown that sources of trace elements in the samples from urban areas include both vehicular emissions and anthropogenic activities. Higher concentration of trace elements in the lichen thalli collected from peri-urban locations is attributed to vehicular emissions from the highways and expressways running through these areas.

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Acknowledgements

Authors acknowledge Dr. D. K. Upreti, Director, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India, and his entire team for cooperation and necessary support with the identification of the samples. Authors also thank the Director, Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar, for providing us the pelletron facilities for PIXE analysis and Prof. P.V. Satyam and his laboratory associates, Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar, for their support during the PIXE experiments. The first author would like to express her gratitude to UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Kolkata Centre, for providing the research fellowship.

Funding

The author SB would like to express her gratitude to UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Kolkata Centre, for providing the research fellowship. The authors would also acknowledge the consortium for providing vehicle and tools for sample collection. (Grant Sanction No.   UGC-DAE-CSR-KC/CRS/13/TE-03/0845 dated 11.12.13).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, West Bengal, India

    Shamayita Banerjee & Aniruddha Mukhopadhyay

  2. Department of Biosciences, AIPH University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

    Shidharth Sankar Ram

  3. Department of Zoology, Syamaprasad College, 92, Dr, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rd, Kolkata, 700026, West Bengal, India

    Nabakanta Jana

  4. Trace Elements Sciences Division, UGC DAE CSR, Kolkata Centre, 3-LB-8, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, 700098, West Bengal, India

    M. Sudarshan

  5. Stress Biology Division, UGC DAE CSR, Kolkata Centre, 3-LB-8, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata, 700098, West Bengal, India

    Anindita Chakraborty

Authors
  1. Shamayita Banerjee
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  2. Shidharth Sankar Ram
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  3. Aniruddha Mukhopadhyay
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  4. Nabakanta Jana
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  5. M. Sudarshan
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  6. Anindita Chakraborty
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Contributions

SB performed all the fieldwork, sample collection, sample preparations, experiments, and analysis and prepared the manuscript. SSR was involved in helping SB with the EDXRF & PIXE experiment set up, data acquisition and data analysis. AM provided valuable guidance with the field work and sample collection. NJ helped in the outline and concept of the study. MS was involved in experiments and analysis and manuscript correction. AC was involved in designing experiments and analysis and manuscript preparation. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Shidharth Sankar Ram or Anindita Chakraborty.

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This work unravels the potential of a specific epiphytic lichen, Pyxine cocoes to trap heavy metals from the atmosphere in their thalli and thereby portray the pollution status in and around the places they are collected from. The research highlights how Pyxine cocoes, collected from the different urban and peri-urban areas in and around the megacity Kolkata, India, have been instrumental in providing an idea about the air pollution status without actively involving any cumbersome power-consuming monitoring techniques.

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Banerjee, S., Ram, S.S., Mukhopadhyay, A. et al. Potential of Epiphytic Lichen Pyxine cocoes, as an Indicator of Air Pollution in Kolkata, India. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 93, 165–180 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-022-01395-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-022-01395-7

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