WITHDRAWN: Lichens as Biomonitors of Air Pollutants Deposition: Strategically Important Element Pollution 

Abstract In this study, different lichen species ( Lobaria pulmonaria, Cladonia furcata, Usnea longissima, Xanthoparmelia somloensis, and Flavopormelia caperata ) as biomonitors of air pollutants deposition were investigated and element pollution (Ta, Bi, Hf, Nb, Ga, Sc, Li, Y, Ce, and Sr) was evaluated. According to obtained data, the highest accumulation was 43.9±2.1 mg/kg in Xanthoparmelia somloensis . Sr value detected in each lichen was quite high. Sr percentages for Lobaria pulmonaria, Cladonia furcata, Usnea longissima, Xanthoparmelia somloensis, and Flavopormelia caperata were 77%, 66%, 87%, 58%, and 78%, respectively. This indicates that the lichens accumulate Sr well. Also, other strategically important elements were also accumulative by lichens. The highest contamination factor (CF) values in lichen species were determined for Sr and Ta. The highest CF values of Hf, Nb, Li, Ga, and Bi were calculated for L. pulmonaria while the highest CF values of Sr, Y, Sc, and Ce were calculated for Xanthoparmelia somloensis . Moreover, the highest CF value of Ta was calculated for Flavopormelia caperata. EF values for Lobaria pulmonaria, Cladonia furcata, and Flavopormelia caperata were >10, only for Bi. EF values for Usnea longissima were <10. EF values for Xanthoparmelia somloensis were >10. PLI values for Lobaria pulmonaria and Usnea longissima were >1. As a result, the presence of strategically important elements detected in lichen species showed that lichens can be used as biomonitors of air pollutants.