Biomonitoring of airborne heavy metal contamination

Biomonitoring of Airborne Heavy Metal Contamination

Introduction

During the last few decades, heavy metal contamination of biotic component of environment has attracted the attention of many investigators. The main reason of these researches based on the heavy metal concentration may have a potential hazard in our food chain after a long period of procrastination. Using biological materials in the determination of environmental pollution as indicators is a cheap and reliable method. Various types of plant such as lichens, mosses, bark and leaves of higher plants, have been used to detect the deposition, accumulation and distribution of metal pollution (Akosy, 2008), Because of plants greatly affected by physical and chemical environmental conditions. If conditions become altered, the exposed plant community can accurately reflect these changes (Nash, 1988)