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Lichens as biomonitors at indoor environments of primary schools

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Abstract

A biomonitoring study, using transplanted lichens Flavoparmelia caperata, was conducted to assess the indoor air quality in primary schools in urban (Lisbon) and rural (Ponte de Sor) Portuguese sites. The lichens exposure period occurred between April and June 2010 and two types of environments of the primary schools were studied: classrooms and outdoor/courtyard. Afterwards, the lichen samples were processed and analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) to assess a total of 20 chemical elements. Accumulated elements in the exposed lichens were assessed and enrichment factors (EF) were determined. Indoor and outdoor biomonitoring results were compared to evaluate how biomonitors (as lichens) react at indoor environments and to assess the type of pollutants that are prevalent in those environments.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT; Portugal) through research contract PTDC/SAU-ESA/65597/2006 is gratefully acknowledged. N. Canha thanks FCT for his PhD grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear (ITN), URSN, Estrada Nacional 10, 2686-953, Sacavém, Portugal

    N. Canha, M. Almeida-Silva, M. C. Freitas & S. M. Almeida

  2. Department of Radiation, Radionuclides and Reactors, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB, Delft, The Netherlands

    H. Th. Wolterbeek

Authors
  1. N. Canha
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  2. M. Almeida-Silva
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  3. M. C. Freitas
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  4. S. M. Almeida
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  5. H. Th. Wolterbeek
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Correspondence to M. C. Freitas.

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Canha, N., Almeida-Silva, M., Freitas, M.C. et al. Lichens as biomonitors at indoor environments of primary schools. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 291, 123–128 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-011-1259-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-011-1259-8

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