Use of lichen fumigation studies to evaluate the effects of new emission sources on class I areas
Allowable increments of SO/sub 2/ from new emission sources near Class I areas are severely limited by the PSD provisions of the Clean Air Act, unless the applicant can prove that the expected emissions will not adversely affect the air quality related values of Class I area. Lichens are considered to be the resource that is most sensitive to SO/sub 2/. If projected concentrations will not injure lichens, other resources should not be affected. Four lichen species native to two Class I area, Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge and Everglades National Park, were fumigated in the laboratory with SO/sub 2/ doses that simulated the frequencies, duration, and concentrations expected from potential new sources. Lichens from Cape Romain were fumigated with 240 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/, 400 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/, and ambient air 3 hours/week for 6 weeks. No differences in biomass gain, percent electrolyte leakage in solution (an indicator of membrane damage) or /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ assimilation were observed among treatments. Lichens from Everglades National Park were fumigated with 100 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/, 200 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/, 400 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/, and ambient air 6 hours/week for 10 weeks. Percent electrolyte leakage of Parmotrema tinctorum was greater at the two high concentrations, but there was no significant effect on biomass gain or /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ assimilation. Percent electrolyte leakage increased and biomass gain and /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ assimilation decreased in Ramalina denticulata at 400 ..mu..g/m/sup 3/ SO/sub 2/ in comparison with lower concentrations. Studies of fumigation effects on lichens are a useful technique for the evaluation of impacts of emission sources on air quality related values in Class I areas.
- Research Organization:
- Environmental Science and Engineering, Inc., Gainesville, FL (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6806968
- Journal Information:
- J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Vol. 38:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Effects of sulfur dioxide on nitrogen fixation, carbon partitioning, and yield components in snapbean
Increased success of the Mexican bean beetle on field-grown soybeans exposed to sulfur dioxide
Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
LICHENS
SENSITIVITY
SULFUR DIOXIDE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
TOXICITY
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
ELECTROLYTES
FLORIDA
NATURE RESERVES
SOUTH CAROLINA
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ALGAE
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
FEDERAL REGION IV
FUNGI
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
RESOURCES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
USA
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
550501 - Metabolism- Tracer Techniques