Vol. 1, December 2023
The use of Lichens as Bio-Indicators and a Cost-Effective way for Heavy Metals Pollution Monitoring in Ambient air in the Western Area and Southern Province of Sierra Leone
Abdul Sannoh and Ronnie A.D. Frazer-Williams
Abstract
With increasing economic crises around the world, more so for countries like Sierra Leone where
the application of state-of-the-art laboratory facilities are lacking due to the virtual lack of
resources, the use of low-cost efficient technology is a suitable alternative. In light of this, the use
of Lichens as a bio-indicator of air quality for heavy metals across the Western Area (Urban and
Rural Areas) and Southern Province (Bo and Bonthe Districts) in Sierra Leone was investigated.
Heavy metals concentrations in Lichen species were determined across several study locations
using The Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) and Atomic Absorption
Spectroscopy (AAS). Lichen samples were collected from trees back having 30 - 70 cm in diameter
and height of 2 - 5 meters. The dried unwashed samples were digested to analyze the
concentrations of heavy metals at the Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucleaires
(INSTN) Campus University Ankatso Antananarivo Madagascar. The Graphis species in the
western urban area (Kingtom power station) exhibited accumulation of heavy metals: Cr (2.3
mg/kg), Co (2.7 mg/kg), Cu (22.4), Fe (1383.3 mg/kg), Pb (4.1 mg/kg), Ni (17.4 mg/kg) and Zn
(46.6 mg/kg) and the Ocellularia species in the western rural area (Black Johnson) exhibited
accumulation of heavy metals: Cr (1.0 mg/kg), Co (0.5 mg/kg), Cu (7.9 mg/kg), Fe (321.9 mg/kg),
Pb (0.5 mg/kg), Ni (6.2 mg/kg) and Zn (5.0 mg/kg) the most prevalent in polluted and clean air
environs respectively. The southern province (Bo and Bonthe districts) exhibited a high
concentration of pollutants. The Arthonia species in the Bo district (Kebbie Town) exhibited
accumulation of heavy metals: Cr (1.5 mg/kg), Co (2.3 mg/kg), Cu (15.7), Fe (1333.5 mg/kg), Pb
(1.8 mg/kg), Ni (11.45mg/kg) and Zn (16.9 mg/kg) whilst Diorygma species in the Bonthe
district (Petema Town) exhibited accumulation of heavy metals: Cr (1.0 mg/kg), Co (0.8 mg/kg),
Cu (12.7 mg/kg), Fe (1593.8 mg/kg), Pb (1.1 mg/kg), Ni (6.2 mg/kg) and Zn (9.3 mg/kg). The
high accumulation of pollutants was attributed to the high carbon monoxide concentration from
industrial operations, frequent vehicular movement, and pollution associated directly with
human activities through the burning of fossil fuel and other materials. The level of heavy metal
pollutants in the Lichen species mirrored those obtained from active sampling using air pollution
equipment in the Western Area. The results support the idea that a lichen biomonitoring
approach can be used as an effective low-cost tool for monitoring heavy metal pollution in air and
provided essential baseline information for future studies on the effect of air pollution on lichen
communities in Sierra Leone.
Keywords
Air quality, Bio-indicator, heavy metals, Lichens and low-cost
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