View in EDS

Integrating magnetic and elemental analyses to evaluate epiphytes as biomonitors of urban air pollution in a tropical city (Medellín, Colombia).

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Integrating magnetic and elemental analyses to evaluate epiphytes as biomonitors of urban air pollution in a tropical city (Medellín, Colombia).
Authors: Carmona-Higuita, Maria Judith1,2 (AUTHOR) maria.carmonahiguita@biologie.uni-marburg.de, García-Arias, Mariana1,3 (AUTHOR) mgarciaa2@eafit.edu.co, Duque-Trujillo, José F.3 (AUTHOR) jduquetr@eafit.edu.co, Benavides, Ana María1 (AUTHOR) anamaria.benavides@jbotanico.org
Source: Environmental Monitoring & Assessment. Apr2026, Vol. 198 Issue 4, p1-15. 15p.
Subject Terms: *Epiphytes, *Magnetic susceptibility, *Elemental analysis, *Urban pollution, *Cities & towns, *Environmental monitoring
Geographic Terms: Colombia, Medellín (Colombia)
Abstract: Urban air pollution is a major challenge for environmental health, especially in tropical cities where complex topography and fossil fuel dependence exacerbate poor air quality. Epiphytes, which rely on atmospheric water and nutrients, are particularly sensitive to airborne contaminants and represent promising biomonitors. This study compares the potential of vascular and non-vascular epiphytes to accumulate airborne pollutants, providing a direct assessment of their biomonitoring performance. We evaluated these epiphytes as biomonitors of urban air pollution in Medellín, Colombia. Six species were studied: three vascular epiphytes (Tillandsia recurvata, Pleopeltis macrocarpa, Rhipsalis baccifera), two bryophytes (Fabronia ciliaris, Kymatocalyx dominicensis), and one lichen (Flavoparmelia caperata). Host tree leaves were included for comparison. The samples were collected from 49 trees across sites representing contrasting pollution levels. We quantified magnetic susceptibility (χ) as a measure of particle accumulation, complemented by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‒OES). The results revealed marked interspecific differences: vascular epiphytes presented significantly higher χ values than bryophytes, lichens, and host tree leaves did. T. recurvata presented the strongest response, with median χ values up to an order of magnitude greater. Non-vascular species reflected pollution differences only weakly, indicating limited suitability for active monitoring. SEM revealed abundant metal particles and microplastic debris on vascular epiphytes, whereas ICP‒OES confirmed elevated Ba, Cu, and Cr at polluted sites. These results provide the first integrated assessment of epiphyte functional groups for biomonitoring in a tropical city, demonstrating that vascular epiphytes, particularly T. recurvata, are robust, accessible and low-cost biomonitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 193283056
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Integrating magnetic and elemental analyses to evaluate epiphytes as biomonitors of urban air pollution in a tropical city (Medellín, Colombia).
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Carmona-Higuita%2C+Maria+Judith%22">Carmona-Higuita, Maria Judith</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> maria.carmonahiguita@biologie.uni-marburg.de</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22García-Arias%2C+Mariana%22">García-Arias, Mariana</searchLink><relatesTo>1,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> mgarciaa2@eafit.edu.co</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Duque-Trujillo%2C+José+F%2E%22">Duque-Trujillo, José F.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jduquetr@eafit.edu.co</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Benavides%2C+Ana+María%22">Benavides, Ana María</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> anamaria.benavides@jbotanico.org</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Environmental+Monitoring+%26+Assessment%22">Environmental Monitoring & Assessment</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 198 Issue 4, p1-15. 15p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Epiphytes%22">Epiphytes</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Magnetic+susceptibility%22">Magnetic susceptibility</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elemental+analysis%22">Elemental analysis</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Urban+pollution%22">Urban pollution</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cities+%26+towns%22">Cities & towns</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+monitoring%22">Environmental monitoring</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Colombia%22">Colombia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medellín+%28Colombia%29%22">Medellín (Colombia)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Urban air pollution is a major challenge for environmental health, especially in tropical cities where complex topography and fossil fuel dependence exacerbate poor air quality. Epiphytes, which rely on atmospheric water and nutrients, are particularly sensitive to airborne contaminants and represent promising biomonitors. This study compares the potential of vascular and non-vascular epiphytes to accumulate airborne pollutants, providing a direct assessment of their biomonitoring performance. We evaluated these epiphytes as biomonitors of urban air pollution in Medellín, Colombia. Six species were studied: three vascular epiphytes (Tillandsia recurvata, Pleopeltis macrocarpa, Rhipsalis baccifera), two bryophytes (Fabronia ciliaris, Kymatocalyx dominicensis), and one lichen (Flavoparmelia caperata). Host tree leaves were included for comparison. The samples were collected from 49 trees across sites representing contrasting pollution levels. We quantified magnetic susceptibility (χ) as a measure of particle accumulation, complemented by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‒OES). The results revealed marked interspecific differences: vascular epiphytes presented significantly higher χ values than bryophytes, lichens, and host tree leaves did. T. recurvata presented the strongest response, with median χ values up to an order of magnitude greater. Non-vascular species reflected pollution differences only weakly, indicating limited suitability for active monitoring. SEM revealed abundant metal particles and microplastic debris on vascular epiphytes, whereas ICP‒OES confirmed elevated Ba, Cu, and Cr at polluted sites. These results provide the first integrated assessment of epiphyte functional groups for biomonitoring in a tropical city, demonstrating that vascular epiphytes, particularly T. recurvata, are robust, accessible and low-cost biomonitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=193283056
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10661-026-15225-0
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Epiphytes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Magnetic susceptibility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elemental analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Urban pollution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cities & towns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Environmental monitoring
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Colombia
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medellín (Colombia)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Integrating magnetic and elemental analyses to evaluate epiphytes as biomonitors of urban air pollution in a tropical city (Medellín, Colombia).
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Carmona-Higuita, Maria Judith
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: García-Arias, Mariana
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Duque-Trujillo, José F.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Benavides, Ana María
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Text: Apr2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 01676369
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 198
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Environmental Monitoring & Assessment
              Type: main
ResultId 1