International Research Journal of Environment Sciences________________________________ ISSN 2319–1414Vol. 2(4), 30-33, April (2013) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 30 Impact of Brick Kiln and Vehicular Emissions on Lichen Diversity in Khanabal Area of Anantnag District (J&K), IndiaAsma Hussan*, Bhat G.A. and Mukhtar Ahmad SheikhDepartment of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar-190006, INDIA Environmental Science, Govt., Higher Secondary School Newa, Pulwama-192301, INDIAAvailable online at: www.isca.in Received 23rd March 2013, revised 26th March 2013, accepted 14th April 2013 AbstractThe aim of this work was to find out the impact of pollutants emitted from brick kiln and vehicles, on lichen density and diversity, as such the site was chosen accordingly in the vicinity of highway where the impact of both was clearly visible. Only three (3) species of lichens of foliose growth form were recorded. The analysis of air quality in the Khanabal area which was based on determining fraction of RSPM, NRSPM, SPM, SO and NO revealed that all these parameters showed values higher than the prescribed norms.Potential sources of pollutants were evaluated ; the Brick kiln ,its fuelling material ,the huge brunt from exhaust pipes of vehicles ,use of adulterated fuel, unpaved road used for loading and unloading of materials, soil extraction process all these added pressure to local environment which reflected on lichens in area causing grave and irreparable damage to them. The data on frequency, density and abundance of different lichen species was also recorded and correlated with the qualitative and quantitative aspect of lichens. The tree species showed variation in bark chemistry (pH, water holding capacity) along the pollution gradient. The study thus allowed us to monitor the extent of pollution and determine its quantity through lichen species in the area Keywords: Brick Kiln, vehicular emissions, lichen diversity, Jammu and Kashmir, biominitoring. Introduction Lichens are some of the most amazing living organisms on this planet that are able to survive economically in the harshest of environment and their peculiar structure and physiology enables them to inhabit diverse geographical regions of the world. They are amongst most frequently used biomonitors of atmospheric pollution. The ability of lichens to accumulate levels of elements in the excess of physiological requirements in close correlation with atmospheric elemental levels has led to their wide scale application as practical biomonitors of atmospheric contamination. Lichen biomonitoring is especially useful in urban areas, where high density of different emitting sources makes monitoring of air pollution with conventional chemical- physical gauge an extremely difficult task. Moreover lichens have more advantages over them. Urban environments are highly complex and air pollutants from different emitting sources have been shown to have both direct and indirect effects on these lichens. Some of the major pollutants that harm lichens are SO, No ,HSO, HNO, F, O and metals like Cu, Pb and Zn. Lichens are a major section of species that are sensitive to changes in atmospheric nutrient conditions2 and have been used as bioindicators of pollution over a long period of time, especially SO. Fruticose lichens are known to be the most sensitive to airpollution, followed by foliose and crustose forms. The vanishing of sensitive lichen species due to changes in microclimatic conditions and air pollution has been reported from Indian cities of Bangalore and Kolkata. Hazarikaet al.reported that highways receive loads of SO from the diesel-powered automobiles in Guwahati city whichhave resulted in the depletion foliose growth form. They further reported that some areas in Guwahati city, experience less air pollution and hence support good lichen growth.Lichen exploration in the state initiated more exhaustively in fifties of the last century, Awasthi and Singh published a note on lichens of Jammu and Kashmir. Recently, Sheikhet al.7-9, Charaket al.10 and Sheikh11 have worked on lichens and their phytosociological aspects from the different regions of the state. However, not much has been done on the biomonotiring aspect of the lichens except for Charaket al.10. Both quantitative and qualitative aspects of lichens are very important as these help in understanding the impact and extent of pollutants in any area. Keeping these points under consideration, the present study was carried out in Khanabal area of Anantnag district with elevation of 1606m and graticulesof 3342’ 02o 06’ N and 75o 06’ 31o 05’E (figure-1). The area around the kiln and along the highway were marked by the presence of only two tree species i.ePoplus alba and Robiniapseudoacacia. Material and MethodsTo assess the air quality of area, High volume Air Sampler was used. Analysis of air quality in the air was based on determining fraction of SPM, RSPM, NRSPM, SO and NO on operational International Research Journal of Environment Sciences______________________________________________ ISSN 2319–1414 Vol. 2(4), 30-33, April (2013) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 31 basis of brick kilns i.e. pre-operational phase, operational phase and Post-operational phase on six (6) hourly basis. The result of air sampling was related to diversity of lichen flora in the area determined by collecting lichens from all the available substratum in the area. Quadrats of 25cm x 25 cm size, three on each tree, were laid from base to chest height for recording the data on frequency, density and abundance of different lichen species, along a few km downwind and upwind from brick kiln on north, south, east and west side of the trunks of the available tree species. Sampling was carried out in total of six rings, at different distances from the brick kiln. The specimens were identified by studying the morphology, anatomy and chemistry. The recent literature of Awasthi12-15, Divakar16 and Nayaka17was consulted for identification of the lichen taxa. Thin layer chromatography was performed by the methods of Culberson18 for lichen substances. Floristic analysis involved carrying out chlorophyll analysis of available lichen species by Arnons method. pH of host trees was determined by Kousinens method using digital pH meter. Similarly water holding capacity was determined by Billing and Drew19 method. Results and Discussion The study revealed the occurrence of only three (3) species of lichens of foliose growth form belonging to 3 genera and 2 families (table-1). The analysis of air quality in the Khanabal area which was based on determining fraction of RSPM, NRSPM, SPM, SO and NOrevealed that all these parameters showed values higher than the prescribed norms (table-2). This data was then correlated with the qualitative and quantitative aspect of lichens in terms of diversity, with observation of population changes and other morphological and floristic parameters serving as indication of extent of pollution in the area. The marked decline in lichen population was attributed to higher pollutant levels in the area which overlaid the pattern of species extirpation both qualitatively and quantitatively. Along the gradients of increasing pollutants lichen communities on both tree species exhibited marked decline in species diversity, density as well as their health and pigment content (table-3, 4 and 5). The pollutants emitted from kiln and vehicles which includes smoke, dust, SO, NO. Flourides, photochemical toxins and metallic pollutants all have taken their toll on lichens, as bleached and dust and smoke impregnated thallus is quite a visible phenomenon. Bleaching occurs as a result of decomposition of chlorophyll which is also supported by our chlorophyll analysis results, the damage being more near the source itself and decreases as one moves away from source. Same species of tree species showed variation in bark chemistry (pH, water holding capacity) along the pollution gradient (table-6 and 7). In general the high brunt of pollutants has contributed not only to complete absence of sensitive lichen species in the area but also poorly developed population characteristics of the existing ones. Not only this but these pollutants also serve as a threat for further survival and spread of species. The fast growth of urbanization, the rate of deforestation and vehicular activities have increased tremendously in the state. Lichens have a long history of use as biological indicators of air quality20. The tolerance oflichens to most of the heavy metals and their slowgrowth rate, are among the main factors that makethem good indicators of both organic and inorganicmetal pollution. The members of lichen family Physciaceae are well known for their toxi-tolerantnature and are growing frequently in the differentregion of the state can be used for pollutionmonitoring21. The lichens along with higher plants act as minor sinks of air pollution by accumulating pollutants at the cost of their life, increase in air pollution in future will further affect lichen composition and diversity in this area. The present communication will act as a baseline record for conducting biomonitoring studies in future in the area. Figure-1 Map of the study area International Research Journal of Environment Sciences______________________________________________ ISSN 2319–1414 Vol. 2(4), 30-33, April (2013) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 32 Table-1 Lichen Diversity in the area S.No Lichen taxa. Family Substratum Growth Form 1 Phaeophysciasp. Physciaceae B Fo 2 Physciasp. Physciaceae B Fo 3 Xanthoriaparietina(L.)Th.Fr.Telochistaceae B&R Fo Table- 2 Particulate, SO and NO levels at Khanabal during different phases S .No Parameters Phases Pre-operational phase (µg/m³) Operational phase (µg/m³) Post- operational phase µg/m³ 1. RSPM 216.46 241.30 213.83 2. NRSPM 271.93 312.26 257.02 3. SPM 488.39 553.56 470.85 4. NO 2 84.17 116.34 120.31 5. SO 2 113. 17 130.95 109.27 Table- 3 Table showing Frequency, Density and abundance of lichen species on Poplusalba Table- 4 Table showing Frequency, Density and abundance of lichen species on RobiniapseudoacaciaTable-5 Pigment analysis of the two Lichen species collected from the area Rings Lichen Taxa. Pigments(mg/g) Chl. a Chl. b Total Chl. Carotene. 1 PhysciaspSpecies Absent Xanthoriaparietina(L.)Th.Fr. 2 Physciasp 0.199 0.161 0.072 0.407 Xanthoriaparietina(L.)Th.Fr. 0.180 0.168 0.082 0.443 3 Physciasp 0.272 0.209 0.097 0.465 Xanthoriaparietina(L.)Th.Fr. 0.285 0.236 0.108 0.443 4 Physciasp 0.368 0.219 0.109 0.486 Xanthoriaparietina(L.)Th.Fr. 0.344 0.155 0.141 0.437 5 Physciasp 0.397 0.304 0.108 0.636 Xanthoriaparietina (L.)Th.Fr. 0.586 0.203 0.016 0.609 6 Physciasp 0.417 0.365 0.141 0.663 Xanthoriaparietina(L.)Th.Fr. 0.654 0.299 0.043 0.569 Lichen taxa. Frequency Density Abundance Rings Rings Rings 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 Physciasp. Ab 25.00 25.00 33.33 33.33 Ab Ab 1.00 1.41 1.41 1.08 Ab Ab 4.00 5.66 4.25 3.25 Ab Xanthoriaparietina (L.)Th.Fr.Ab 41.66 58.33 58.33 50.00 66.66 Ab 4.33 6.83 9.41 5.41 10.33 Ab 10.40 11.71 16.14 10.83 15.50 Lichen Taxa Frequency Density Abundance Rings Rings Rings 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 Physciasp Ab 33.33 33.33 16.66 41.66 33.33 Ab 1.83 2.16 2.41 3.66 4.25 Ab 5.5 6.5 14.4 8.8 12.75 Xanthoriaparietina (L.) Th.Fr. Ab 41.66 58.33 50.00 50.00 58.33 Ab 55.75 9.66 10.41 9.91 7.75 Ab 71.50 71.82 59.12 69.26 50.01 International Research Journal of Environment Sciences______________________________________________ ISSN 2319–1414 Vol. 2(4), 30-33, April (2013) Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 33 Table- 6 pH of the bark of two common tree species in the area Plant sps. Rings 1 2 3 4 5 6 Average pH Poplus alba 4.67 6.34 9.63 9.78 6.16 8.44 7.50 Rubiniapseudocacia 5.31 7.56 10.73 12.92 12.19 10.49 7.81 Table- 7 Water Holding Capacity of the bark of two common tree species found in the area Plant sps. Rings 1 2 3 4 5 6 Poplus alba 7.327 6.348 9.631 9.783 6.168 8.443 Rubiniapseudocacia 11.230 7.546 10.732 12.928 12.192 10.495 Conclusion The present investigation revealed that decline in lichens can be attributed to higher pollutant levels in the area which overlaid the pattern of species extirpation both qualitatively and quantitatively as well their health and pigment content. The present communication thus serves as baseline record regarding the level of various pollutants including particulate matter and the number of lichen species for conducting biomonitoring studies in future. References1.Hawsworth D.L and F. 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