Assessing Seasonal Concentrations of Airborne Potentially Toxic Elements in Tropical Mountain Areas in Thailand Using the Transplanted Lichen Parmotrema Tinctorum (Despr. ex Nyl.) Hale

The atmosphere of mountain areas may be contaminated by pollutants originating mainly from road traffic, as well tourist and community activities within such areas. This study aimed to assess the concentrations airborne potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in two Thailand using lichen biomonitoring. Thalli Parmotrema tinctorum relatively unpolluted area Khao Yai National Park (KYNP) were prepared exposed at nine sites KYNP Doi Inthanon (DINP) during rainy dry seasons. transplants collected analyzed for 15 PTEs, including Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Ti, V, Zn, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. result clearly showed that many monitoring both mountains investigated PTEs. contamination factors (CFs) revealed several PTEs heavily sites. pollution load indices (PLIs) illustrated all had higher loads season than season, which was likely due numbers motor vehicles visitors. highest observed traffic density human activities, park entrance site DINP. lowest air discovered summit mountains. indicates can some are produced local communities. It also confirms ability transplanted P. an effective biomonitoring tool natural environments.