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Airborne trace elements near a petrochemical industrial complex in Thailand assessed by the lichen Parmotrema tinctorum (Despr. ex Nyl.) Hale

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Abstract

Several trace elements discharged by the petrochemical industry are toxic to humans and the ecosystem. In this study, we assessed airborne trace elements in the vicinity of the Map Ta Phut petrochemical industrial complex in Thailand by transplanting the lichen Parmotrema tinctorum to eight industrial, two rural, and one clean air sites between October 2013 and June 2014. After 242 days, the concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Ti, V, and Zn in lichens at most industrial sites were higher than those at the rural and the control sites; in particular, As, Cu, Mo, Sb, V, and Zn were significantly higher than at the control site (p < 0.05). Contamination factors (CFs) indicated that Cd, Cu, Mo, and Sb, which have severe health impacts, heavily contaminated at most industrial sites. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that most elements were associated with industry, with lesser contributions from traffic and agriculture. Based on the pollution load indexes (PLIs), two industrial sites were highly polluted, five were moderately polluted, and one had a low pollution level, whereas the pollution load at the rural sites was comparable to background levels. This study reinforces the utility of lichens as cost-effective biomonitors of airborne elements, suitable for use in developing countries, where adequate numbers of air monitoring instruments are unavailable due to financial, technical, and policy constraints.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Science Achievement Scholarship of Thailand (SAST) for granting a scholarship to C. Boonpeng. We would like to give a very special thanks to all of our colleagues at the Lichen Research Unit, as well as all relevant officers at all study areas for their assistance. We are also thankful to three anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions and comments. This work was funded by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lichen Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Hua Mark, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand

    Chaiwat Boonpeng, Wetchasart Polyiam & Kansri Boonpragob

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Hua Mark, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand

    Chutima Sriviboon & Duangkamon Sangiamdee

  3. School of Biology, Institute of Science, Suranaree University of Technology, Mueang District, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand

    Santi Watthana

  4. Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 10, 34127, Trieste, Italy

    Pier Luigi Nimis

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  1. Chaiwat Boonpeng
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  2. Wetchasart Polyiam
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  3. Chutima Sriviboon
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  4. Duangkamon Sangiamdee
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Correspondence to Chaiwat Boonpeng.

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Boonpeng, C., Polyiam, W., Sriviboon, C. et al. Airborne trace elements near a petrochemical industrial complex in Thailand assessed by the lichen Parmotrema tinctorum (Despr. ex Nyl.) Hale. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 12393–12404 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8893-9

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