(Persistent) Organic pollutants in Germany: results from a pilot study within the 2015 moss survey

Abstract

BackgroundSince 1990, every 5 years, moss sampling is conducted within the European moss monitoring programme to assess the atmospheric deposition of airborne pollutants. Besides many other countries, Germany takes regularly part at these evaluations. Within the European moss monitoring 2015, more than 400 moss samples across Germany were taken according to a harmonized methodology for the assessment heavy metal and nitrogen input. In a pilot programme, eight of these sites were chosen for additional investigations on a broad range of organic contaminants to evaluate their accumulation in moss and thereby their presence in atmospheric deposition in Germany. Target compound classes comprised polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and –furans (PCDD/F), dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCB, ndl-PCB), polyfluorinated alkyl substances, classical flame retardants as well as emerging chlorinated and brominated flame retardants. In total, 120 target compounds were analysed. For some analytes, comparisons of accumulation in moss and tree leave samples were possible.ResultsExcept for certain flame retardants, PFAS, and ndl-PCB, substances of all other compound classes could be quantified in moss samples of all sites. Concentrations were highest for PAH (40–268 ng g−1) followed by emerging flame retardants (0.5–7.7 ng g−1), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE; 0.3–3.7 ng g−1), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD; 0.3–1.2 ng g−1), dl-PCB (0.04–0.4 ng g−1) and PCDD/F (0.008–0.06 ng g−1).ConclusionsResults show the widespread atmospheric distribution and deposition of organic contaminants across Germany as well as the suitability of moss as bioaccumulation monitor for most of these compound classes. Compared to nearby tree leaf samples, accumulation potential of moss appeared to be higher for pollutants of high octanol–air partition coefficient (KOA) and octanol–water partition coefficient (KOW).Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12302-018-0172-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Degradation Kinetics of Microbial Consortium Isolated from Diesel Oil Impacted Soil in Delta Park, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

“…It consists mainly of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and alkanes of low molecular weight PAHs and low molecular weight [2]. The fate of the former compounds generally is of great concern to human health, since they are toxic to plants and carcinogenic to humans [3]. Uncontrolled releases of these compounds into soil around power houses are common as a result of inefficient control practices [4].…”

Global ambient air quality monitoring: Can mosses help? A systematic meta-analysis of literature about passive moss biomonitoring

“…In a nationwide assessment of POPs in Germany, as part of the European Moss Survey initiatives in 2015, Dreyer et al ( 2018 ) analyzed 400 moss samples following a harmonized methodology. Results indicated that (i) mosses have appreciable bioaccumulation potential for a wide array of POPs (e.g., PAHs, PCBs, PCDD/Fs, HBCDs) and thus aid in monitoring atmospheric concentrations, and (ii) compared to nearby tree leaf samples, mosses have high accumulation potential for pollutants of high octanol–air partition coefficient (KOA) and octanol–water partition coefficient (KOW).…”

Modelling spatial patterns of correlations between concentrations of heavy metals in mosses and atmospheric deposition in 2010 across Europe

“…Also, other potential pollutants, such as nitrogen or persistent organic pollutants (POP), should be included. First pilot studies on POP exist, for example, in Germany [5].…”

“…Within the LRTAP convention, European Moss Survey (EMS) is conducted using naturally growing mosses as biomonitors of atmospheric deposition of air pollutants. Since 1990, moss specimens have been sampled every 5 years at up to 7300 sampling sites in up to 35 countries [2–4] to determine the concentrations of heavy metals (HM), nitrogen (N, since 2005) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs, since 2010) [4, 5]. The EMS is coordinated by the ICP Vegetation, an international cooperative programme (ICP) reporting on impacts of air pollution on vegetation to the LRTAP convention [3].…”