Contents
| AIR HYGIENE REPORT no. 10 | |
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Contents |
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3.1 Introduction
Burton (1986) found that the use of macrofungi in monitoring atmospheric deposition was rare, however a few metal bioaccumulation studies using macrofungi in relation to urban and industrial sources had been reported. Burton (1986) also concluded that the use of microfungi for monitoring contamination was limited due to the time consuming processes involved. Very few accounts of monitoring of heavy metal deposition using fungi were found in the current review. However, interest in their use in monitoring gaseous pollutants appears to have increased (Chapter III, Section 3). References
Kovács (1992a) dedicated a chapter to fungi as environmental indicators. This is summarised in the following paragraphs. The following fungal groups have been used in heavy metal accumulation studies, the most effective listed first:
In a study in a forest in Hungary, species from the above three groups were examined in terms of their elemental composition. Wood decomposers contained lower concentrations than representatives from the other groups.
Certain heavy metals are 'excluded' by fungi and are absorbed only in small quantities, depending on the species. A study was carried out in an area exposed to iron containing spoil banks in the north-eastern-central mountains, Hungary. Various heavy metal concentrations were examined in spoil samples, Coprinus comatus stems and Coprinus comatus caps. A selection of the results is presented in Table 2.8.
Table 2.8 The chemical composition of Coprinus comatus (µg g-1 dry weight) (from Kovács 1992a)
| Element | Red spoil | Coprinus comatus stems | Coprinus comatus caps |
| Cd | 16.1 | 0.3 | 0.8 |
| Fe | 92962 | 1646 | 918.1 |
| Ni | 87.7 | 1.4 | 1.4 |
| Pb | 48.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Results showed that only iron was present in high concentrations in the spoil and in the fungi. Cadmium, nickel and lead were present in high concentrations in the spoil but were in very low to non-detectable concentrations in the fungi. References
Although many fungi species may be suitable for heavy metal indication, certain indicator species should be chosen for comparability between regions. Knowledge of the species requirements, accumulating abilities and habitat is desirable and its distribution should be widespread.
In an intensive study of total mercury content in vegetation in Ontario, Hg levels were higher in mushrooms than in the other plant types studied (i.e. mosses, lichens and tree species). Mushrooms accumulated 144.39 ng g-1 Hg in comparison to 37.03 ng g-1 in lichens and 75.32 ng g-1 in pleurocarpous mosses. References
Little published literature exists with regard to fungi distribution patterns in response to aerial metal contamination. However, in Finland, Helander (1993) reported on the responses of pine needle endophytes to air pollutants, Ni, Cu and sulphuric acid emitted from an industrial complex at Harjavalta. The number of pine needles infected with endophytes and also the number of needles infected specifically with Cenangium ferrucinosum were significantly higher at increasing distances from the factories. References
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