Use of a Geographic Information System and lichens to map air pollution in a tropical city: San José, Costa Rica
- Author:
- Neurohr Bustamante E., Monge-Nájera J. & Méndez-Estrada V.H.
- Year:
- 2013
- Journal:
- Revista de Biología Tropical
- Pages:
- 61(2): 557-563
- Url:
There are no studies of air pollution bio-indicators based on
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Costa Rica. In this study we present the results of a project that
analyzed tree trunk lichens as bioindicators of air pollution in 40 urban parks located along the passage of wind
through the city of San Jose in 2008 and 2009. The data were processed with GIS and are presented in an easy
to understand color coded isoline map. Our results are consistent with the generally accepted view that lichens
respond to the movement of air masses, decreasing their cover in the polluted areas. Furthermore, lichen cover
matched the concentration of atmospheric nitrogen oxides from a previous study of the same area. Our maps
should be incorporated to urban regulatory plans for the city of San José to zone the location of schools, hospitals
and other facilities in need of clean air and to inexpensively assess the risk for breast cancer and respiratory
diseases in several neighborhoods throughout the city.
Key words: air quality color code, environmental monitoring, dispersion mapping, lichenology.
- Id:
- 24725
- Submitter:
- zdenek
- Post_time:
- Sunday, 23 November 2014 20:10
