In the present work, Tillandsia usneoides L., an epiphytic bromeliad, was used as bioindicator of atmospheric metal pollution in São Paulo, Brazil, the biggest city in South America. Tillandsia samples were collected from an unpolluted area and were exposed bimonthly at ten sites of the city with different pollution levels and at a control site. Seven trace metals (Ni, Co, Cu, Cd, Pb, V, and Sb) were analysed in the plants by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) thereafter. The results indicated that Co, Ni, Cd, and V can be attributed to industrial sources while Cu can be associated to both vehicular and industrial sources. Sb is suggested to be influenced mainly by vehicular sources. For Pb, no evident sources could be identified so far as it was spread evenly along the monitoring sites.
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Figueiredo, A.M.G. et al. (2007). The use of an epiphyte (Tillandsia usneoides L.) as bioindicator of heavy metal pollution in São Pauo, Brazil. In: Morrison, G.M., Rauch, S. (eds) Highway and Urban Environment. Alliance For Global Sustainability Bookseries, vol 12. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6010-6_23
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