LICHENS AS MONITORS OF AIR-POLLUTION

Lichens have attracted particular attention as biological indicators of air pollution on account of their known sensitivity, especially to gaseous impurities such as the oxides of sulphur and various fluorine compounds, and their ability to accumulate metals. The main epiphytic lichens observed were: Physcia tenella, Lecanora hagenii, Physconia grisea and Xanthoria parietina, and the Ammann Standard Method was used in order to establish the indices of atmospheric purity (I.A.P). In addition the results have been plotted on a map of the surveyed area.