Ayuk Elizabeth Orock

Lichen Species as Bio-accumulator of some Halogens on Mount Cameroon Valcano, West Africa

Lichens diversities are informative indicators for assessing impacts of air pollution, climate change, environmental health, volcanic activities, habitat heterogeneity and continuity. Lacking roots, vascular tissues, stomata and waxy cuticle, they absorb and accumulate airborne nutrients/pollutants from the atmosphere over their entire surface. Halogens, especially fluorides are released into the atmosphere in large amounts by volcanic eruptions and their pollutants levels in lichens can be determined quantitatively by chemical analysis of species.