Mosses as biomonitors of atmospheric heavy metal deposition: Spatial patterns and temporal trends in Europe

First survey of atmospheric heavy metal deposition in Kosovo using moss biomonitoring

“…A more detailed description of sampling procedure is given in moss survey sampling manual (Harmens et al 2010a) and in our previous publications (Qarri et al 2013, Bekteshi et al 2015. The systematic sampling scheme with a homogeneous distribution among 25 sampling sites with equal densities (1.5 moss samples/1000 km 2 is recommended (Harmens et al, 2010;Qarri et al, 2014a). The positions of sampling sites are shown in Fig.…”

“…Different methods and models are applied in monitoring the air quality by measuring the concentration of pollutants in the air or directly in atmospheric deposits, by building different models that describe the distribution of the pollutants or by using different biomonitors (Schilling et al 2002, Vianna et al 2011, Blagnytė et al 2010, Viet et al 2010, Vukovic et al 2013, Paoli et al 2013. Mosses act as bioindicators as well as bioaccumulators of metal deposition in the environment (Rühling and Tyler 1968, Rühling et al 1987, Castello 2007, Stihi et al 2008) and the use of native terrestrial carpet-forming mosses as biomonitors is now a well-recognized technique in studies of atmospheric contamination (Fernandez and Carballeira 2002;Harmens et al 2010Harmens et al , 2011Harmens et al , 2015. Moss biomonitoring technique is applied as a practical mode in establishing and characterizing deposition sources.…”

Trace Metals in Upland Headwater Lakes in Ireland

“…The median Zn concentration in the study lakes was\1.0 lg L -1 , compared with 2.2 lg L -1 (Finland), 1.1 lg L -1 (Norway), 1.5 lg L -1 (Sweden), 1.4 lg L -1 (Russian Kola), and 3.1 lg L -1 (Italy). In concert, metal concentrations in the study lakes were lower compared with the 1995 European surveys (Skjelkvåle et al 2001b) owing to decreased acidic and metal deposition across Europe during the last decade (Harmens et al 2010). In contrast, metal concentrations were higher for Mn, Cr, and As in the study lakes; median Mn concentration was 22.5 lg L -1 , compared with Finland (21.0 lg L -1 ), Norway (2.3 lg L -1 ), Russian Kola (5.0 lg L -1 ), Sweden (14.5 lg L -1 ), and Italy (1.1 lg L -1 ).…”

Comments on J.A. Fernandez, M.T. Boquete, A. Carballeira, J.R. Aboal (2015). A critical review of protocols for moss biomonitoring of atmospheric deposition: Sampling and sample preparation. Science of the Total Environment 517: 132–150

“…One of the main aims of the European moss survey is also to establish temporal trends in heavy metal concentrations in mosses (e.g. Harmens et al, 2010;2015). Hence, it is important only to make changes to the protocol based on scientific evidence applicable to a wide area of Europe, so temporal trends are not confounded by changes in the protocol over the years.…”

“…(2007). Schröder, W., Holy, M., Pesch, R., Harmens, H., et al (2010). Are cadmium, lead and mercury concentrations in mosses across Europe primarily determined by atmospheric deposition of these metals?…”