Accumulation of Potentially Toxic Elements in Mosses Collected in the Republic of Moldova
Open Access
- 2 March 2021
- Vol. 10 (3), 471
- https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030471
Abstract
For the second time, the moss biomonitoring technique was applied to evaluate the deposition of potentially toxic elements in the Republic of Moldova. The study was performed in the framework of the International Cooperative Program on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops. Moss Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. samples were collected in May 2020 from 41 sampling sites distributed over the entire territory of the country. The mass fractions of 35 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Se, Rb, Sr, Sb, Cs, Ba, Cd, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Hf, Ta, Th, Pb, and U) were determined using neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry. Comparing with 2015/2016 moss survey data, significant differences in the mass fractions of Cr, As, Se, Br, Sr, Sb, Cd, Pb, and Cu were found. Main air pollution sources (natural processes, transport, industry, agriculture, mining) were identified and characterized using factor and correlation analyses. GIS maps were built to point out the zones with the highest element mass fractions and to relate this to the known sources of contamination. Contamination factor, geo-accumulation index, pollution load index, and potential ecological risk index were calculated to assess the air pollution levels in the country. According to the calculated values, Moldova can be characterized as unpolluted to moderately polluted, with low potential ecological risk related to the degree of atmospheric deposition of potentially toxic elements. The cities of Chisinau and Balti were determined to experience particular environmental stress and are considered moderately polluted.Keywords
This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- Biomonitoring of metal levels in urban areas with different vehicular traffic intensity by using Araucaria heterophylla needlesEcological Indicators, 2020
- Atmospheric Heavy Metal Deposition in North Macedonia from 2002 to 2010 Studied by Moss Biomonitoring TechniqueAtmosphere, 2020
- Perspective of mitigating atmospheric heavy metal pollution: using mosses as biomonitoring and indicator organismEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research, 2019
- Heavy Metal Atmospheric Deposition Study in Moscow Region, RussiaBulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2019
- Using moss and lichens in biomonitoring of heavy-metal contamination of forest areas in southern and north-eastern PolandScience of The Total Environment, 2018
- Characterization of Heavy Metal Air Pollution in Romania Using Moss Biomonitoring, Neutron Activation Analysis, and Atomic Absorption SpectrometryAnalytical Letters, 2017
- Lichens as Biomonitors of Heavy-Metal PollutionPublished by Elsevier BV ,2016
- Epiphytic lichens as biomonitors of airborne heavy metal pollutionEnvironmental and Experimental Botany, 2013
- Biomonitoring of trace metals in the atmosphere using moss (Hypnum plumaeforme) in the Nanling Mountains and the Pearl River Delta, Southern ChinaAtmospheric Environment, 2004
- Plants as Biomonitors of Atmospheric Pollution: Their Potential for Use in Pollution RegulationReviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 1998