In order to determine the input of pollutants and their impact to the environment, I used the method of responsive bioindication on selected streets in the Municipality of Koper. The level of pollution was assessed based on the presence of epiphytic lichens at 16 different locations. The mapping of epiphytic lichens was done accordint to two methods: (i) the Slovenian method, where all three lichen growth forms (foliose, crustose and fruticose lichens) were mapped at three different tree heights (bottom, trunk, crown), and (ii) the register of selected lichen species, which are toxitolerant to air pollution and are nitrophylic at the same time (Xanthoria parietina, Physcia adscendens, and Phaeophyscia orbicularis). The results of the inventory show that the Municipality of Koper is burdened with road traffic. This is indicated by the presence of crustose and foliose lichens which are found in environments with increased levels of pollution, and by the presence of toxitolerant lichen species on tree trunks.
D.11 Other
COBISS.SI-ID: 1024450644Men with many of its activities pollute the environment. Problem is particularly emissions of air pollutants whose chemical nature is very diverse, as nitrogen oxides, sulphur compounds, dust particles, heavy metals and other pollutants are found in the air. The use of lichen to determine the air quality is very common, due to their simple structure and their capability to uptake of pollutants from the air. The presence or absence of lichens is also a good indicator of atmospheric pollution. In our research, we have conducted air monitoring at fifteen locations in the Vipava valley. We used the adjusted Slovenian method – the inventory of the presence of selected species of epiphytic lichens (Physcia adscendens, Hypogymnia physodes and Xanthoria parietina) was done. Based on the results, we found that air pollution is the same in all locations and that Vipava valley is polluted with nitrogen oxides.
D.11 Other
COBISS.SI-ID: 1024455252The aim of the project task was to determine the impact of transport on air pollution by ozone, nitrogen oxide and dust particles and to assess the risk to human health. Measurements of concentrations of air pollutants (ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO)) were carried out with passive diffusion samplers at different road sections (Črnova, Ljubno, Logarska dolina), at three distances (0–5 m, 5–10 m over 20 m) from the edge of the road and at three heights (20, 100, 170 cm). Measurements were also carried out before and after fencing of three different designs (wood, plastic, vegetable), at two heights (100 and 170 cm). At the three road sections concentrations of particulate matter (PM10) were measured. Bioindication response was used to monitor the effects of air pollutants on the organisms (indicator plants for ozone – Nicotiana tabacum `Bel W3` and inventories of lichens). The results show that the concentration of air pollutants increased with traffic density. With the distance from the edge of the road, ozone level increased, while the concentration of nitrogen oxides was reduced. This pattern was highly characteristic of the road sections with high density of traffic, as Črnova, and less or non-characteristic for sites with lower traffic density (Ljubno and Logarska dolina). Concentrations of air pollutants were not significantly different between the height 100 and 170 cm, thus the exposure of children and adults to air pollutants at a distance of 20 m is equal. Maximum daily concentrations of PM10 were measured at the site Črnova and the lower in the Logarska dolina. The occasional elevated levels of PM10 on location Črnova may represent increased risk to human health. Negative impact of ozone on ozone indicator plants (higher proportion of damaged leaf area) with the distance from the edge of the road at all locations increased. After four weeks of continuous exposure, the most injuries were observed at the plants at the location Črnova. Inventories of lichens have shown that the effects of emissions from transport are mainly reflected in a more congested traffic lane segment and closer to the edge of the road. Traffic contributed to reduced diversity of lichen species. Planting a vegetable fence, which will act as effective protection against nitrogen oxides, is recommended in the road sections, where traffic density is of more than 17,000 vehicles per day.
B.06 Other
COBISS.SI-ID: 1123286Bioindication is a method for determination of the level of pollution with the help of living organism. Living organism can react to the pollution (elevated levels of pollutants) either by accumulation of the pollutants such as heavy metals, PAHs, radionuclides … in their thalli (accumulative bioindication) or by typical response to the pollution (response bioindication). The bioindication methods can be also divided into passive and active bioindication. In this lecture the bioindication methods on the example of epiphytic lichens (which are one of the most often used bioindication organism) will be presented. Lichens have been used as accumulative and response bioindicators in the Šalek Valley in Slovenia. The Slovene largest Thermal Power Plant Šoštanj is located in the Šalek Valley, with typical air pollutants, such as NOx, SO2 and heavy metals. Since major reduction of pollutants emissions have been done in recent decades, the goal of researches was to check weather this improvement is also detectable by epiphytic lichens. One of the most important air pollution sources nowadays is traffic, with the NOx as the most important pollutant. We have used epiphytic lichens also for the determination of pollution along the roads with different traffic density.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 1161686Project leader in involved in teaching processes at the University of Primorska (Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies) in the topics Ecotoxicology and Environmental monitoring, and at the Environmental Protection College Velenje in the topic Bioindication and biomonitorin.
B.05 Guest lecturer at an institute/university