METHOD FOR LICHEN INDICATION OF AIR POLLUTION Russian patent published in 2016 - IPC G01N33/00 A01G23/00 

FIELD: ecology.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to ecology, specifically to assessment of quality of atmospheric air of residential places based on state of epiphytic lichen flora. For this purpose, method includes calculating air pollution index (API) based on vitality of lichen within 89 %, comparing it with a complex index defined on account site, and tolerance factor of lichen flora in relation to air pollution index, which is calculated by formula API=(0.89-G/89)/0.298, where 0.89 is maximum relative vitality of lichen flora in pure air; G% is a complex index of vitality of lichen flora on lichen indication site; 89 % is theoretically possible maximum vitality of lichen flora in pure air, expressed in percentage; 0.298 is tolerance factor of lichen flora to API. Value of API of about 1 and presence of all types of lichen indicates favourable ecological situation and quality of atmospheric air; a score within 5-6 units indicates elevated pollution; a score of 7-13 characterises high pollution; a score above 14 characterises very high pollution.

EFFECT: invention enables ecological assessment and determine average annual air pollution.

1 cl, 1 tbl, 1 ex