Comparison of Exposure Techniques and Vitality Assessment of Mosses in Active Biomonitoring for Their Suitability in Assessing Heavy Metal Pollution in Atmospheric Aerosol

Abstract

The most widespread and used technique is the moss-bag method in active biomonitoring of air pollution using mosses. In the literature, we can find various studies on the standardization of this method, including attempts to standardize treatments and preparation procedures for their universal application. Few works comprehensively focus on other methods or compare other techniques used in active biomonitoring with mosses, especially including measurements of their vital parameters. Our experiment aimed to assess air pollution by selected heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Mn, Fe, and Hg) using three moss species (Pleurozium schreberi, Sphagnum fallax, and Dicranum polysetum) during a 12-week exposure in an urban area. Mosses were exposed simultaneously using four techniques: moss bag in three variants (exposed to air for total deposition of heavy metals, exposed to air for only dry deposition, and sheltered from the wind) and transplants in boxes. Increases in heavy metal concentrations in mosses were determined using the relative accumulation factor (RAF). The actual quantum yield of photosystem II photochemical was also analyzed as the main vitality parameter. The results indicate that all moss species during the changing environmental conditions survived and retained their vitality, although it decreased by >50% during the exposure. The best biomonitor was the moss P. schreberi, whose RAF increments were the highest throughout the study period for the majority of elements. The moss-bag technique had a statistically significant effect (almost 40%) on the concentration value of a given metal for a certain species, and thus it is the most recommended technique that can be applied in air quality monitoring in urban areas.

One year of active moss biomonitoring in the identification of PAHs in an urbanized area—prospects and implications

“…Therefore, we have dispensed with such analyses (such as fluorescence and chlorophyll content testing) in this study. In our other work on biomonitoring with mosses carried out throughout, e.g., 3 months, we present the results of studies on, e.g., the vitality of mosses during their exposure (Świsłowski et al 2021e , 2022 ).…”