Lichens as indicators of fluoride emission from a phosphorus plant, Long Harbour, Newfoundland, Canada

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Botany
• Main Authors: Roberts, B. A., Thompson, L. K.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1980
• Subjects: Plant Science; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b80-256; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/b80-256

Fluoride concentrations in the terrestrial lichens Cladina rangiferina (L.) Harm, and Cladina stellaris (Opiz.) Brodo. were correlated inversely with distance from an industrial plant producing elemental phosphorus at Long Harbour, Nfld., in the direction (NE) of the prevailing wind. The fluoride concentrations ranged from 2830 ppm dry weight in a severely damaged area close to the emission source to 15.5 ppm (dry weight) 12 km NE of the industrial plant. Control samples from unpolluted areas had an average fluoride content of 6.4 ppm dry weight. The minimum observed damage symptoms occurred when these lichens had a fluoride content of 25 ppm dry weight. Damage symptoms included discolouration and structure loss. Discolouration effects were not as pronounced as observed on Abies balsamea (L.) Mill, or on Polytrichum commune (Hedw.) but combined with structure loss allowed the degree of damage to be readily identified in the field. Fluoride concentrations in these terrestrial lichens are compared with levels in soil humus, A. balsamea and some terrestrial bryophytes in four damage zones. The lichen tissue had, on average, twice as much fluoride as occurred in soil humus from the same site and about one half the amount of fluoride found in the terrestrial bryophyte P. commune. The effects of fluoride emissions on the epiphytic lichens Hypogymnia physodes (L.) W. Wats, and Alectoria sarmentosa (Ach.) Ach. in this area are also discussed.