Moss Biomonitoring of Transboundary Pollutants in Japan’s Mountains

Long-range transported atmospheric pollutants (or transboundary pollutants) include trace metals with isotope ratios and compositions that vary from those of domestic pollutants, which threaten mountain ecosystems. These differences can be applied as indices (trace metal indices) to evaluate the influence of transboundary pollutants on mountain ecosystems. Mosses play important ecological functions in mountains and are sensitive to atmospheric deposition. Therefore, using these indices for moss biomonitoring can provide a more accurate indication of ecosystem health. However, few studies have examined which indices are appropriate for moss biomonitoring. In this study, the effectiveness of moss biomonitoring using trace metal indices was examined for evaluating transboundary pollutants in mountainous areas in Japan. Transboundary pollutants in these areas originate from mainland Asia and are characterized by high lead isotope ratios, lead to zinc (Pb/Zn) ratios, and arsenic to vanadium (As/V) ratios. Given that the abundance of transboundary pollutants decreases with distance from mainland Asia, moss isotope indices are also expected to vary with distance. Based on observations, Pb isotope ratios were found to decrease with distance from mainland Asia; in contrast, Pb/Zn and As/V ratios did not display any notable relationship with distance. These results are likely attributed to biological and environmental factors that affect trace metal contents in moss. Thus, moss Pb isotope ratios are useful indicators of transboundary pollutants in Japan’s mountains, offering an important tool for comparable moss biomonitoring studies in East Asia.

Comparison of the Air Pollution Mathematical Model of PM10 and Moss Biomonitoring Results in the Tritia Region

Knowing the relationship between pollution sources and air pollution concentrations is crucial. Mathematical modeling is a suitable method for the assessment of this relationship. The aim of this research was to compare the results of the Analytical Dispersion Modelling Supercomputer System (ADMOSS), which is used for air pollution modeling in large areas, with the results of moss biomonitoring. For comparison purposes, air pollution mathematical modeling and the collection of moss samples for biomonitoring in the Czech–Polish–Slovak border area in the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) Tritia were carried out. Moss samples were analyzed by multi-element instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The INAA results were statistically processed using the correlation-matrix-based hierarchical clustering and correlation analysis of the biomonitoring results and ADMOSS results. Biomonitoring using bryophytes proved to be suitable for the verification of mathematical models of air pollution due to the ability of bryophytes to capture the long-term deposition of pollutants and the resulting possibility of finding the real distribution of pollutants in the area, as well as identify the specific chemical elements, the distribution of which coincides with the mathematical model.

First Results on Moss Biomonitoring of Trace Elements in the Central Part of Georgia, Caucasus

The moss biomonitoring technique was used for assessment of air pollution in the central part of Georgia, Caucasus, in the framework of the UNECE ICP Vegetation. A total of 35 major and trace elements were determined by two complementary analytical techniques, epithermal neutron activation analysis (Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Se, B, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Sb, I, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Hf, Ta, W, Th, and U) and atomic absorption spectrometry (Cu, Cd, and Pb) in the moss samples collected in 2019. Principal Component Analyses was applied to show the association between the elements in the study area. Four factors were determined, of which two are of geogenic origin (Factor 1 including Na, Al, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Th, and U and Factor 3 with As, Sb, and W), mixed geogenic–anthropogenic (Factor 2 with Cl, K, Zn, Se, Br, I, and Cu) and anthropogenic (Factor 4 comprising Ca, Cd, Pb, and Br). Geographic information system (GIS) technologies were used to construct distributions maps of factor scores over the investigated territory. Comparison of the median values with the analogous data of moss biomonitoring in countries with similar climatic conditions was carried out.

First-Time Source Apportionment Analysis of Deposited Particulate Matter from a Moss Biomonitoring Study in Northern Greece

Moss biomonitoring is a widely used technique for monitoring the accumulation of trace elements in airborne pollution. A total of one hundred and five samples, mainly of the Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. moss species, were collected from the Northern Greece during the 2015/2016 European ICP Vegetation (International Cooperative Program on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops) moss survey, which also included samples from the metalipherous area of Skouries. They were analyzed by means of neutron activation analysis, and the elemental concentrations were determined. A positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was applied to the results obtained for source apportionment. According to the PMF model, five sources were identified: soil dust, aged sea salt, road dust, lignite power plants, and a Mn-rich source. The soil dust source contributed the most to almost all samples (46% of elemental concentrations, on average). Two areas with significant impact from anthropogenic activities were identified. In West Macedonia, the emissions from a lignite power plant complex located in the area have caused high concentrations of Ni, V, Cr, and Co. The second most impacted area was Skouries, where mining activities and vehicular traffic (probably related to the mining operations) led to high concentrations of Mn, Ni, V, Co, Sb, and Cr.