Use of mosses (Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi) as biomonitors of heavy metal deposition: From relative to absolute deposition values

In order to ensure quality assurance in large-scale environmental contamination studies involving many different analytical laboratories, the use of calibrated reference materials is essential. Prior to a survey of atmospheric metal deposition in 1995 comprising 20 countries and covering large parts of Europe, the lack of suitable reference materials of moss and organic-rich soil was apparent. In order to improve the quality of analytical data to be produced in this international survey, candidate analytical laboratories were invited to participate in an intercomparison exercise. Three moss and three soil humus reference samples specifically prepared for this purpose were distributed anonymously among the laboratories, which were asked to report data for ten priority elements (V, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb) and as many additional elements as they determined normally. In this paper the analytical data from the intercomparison are evaluated, and recommended values for the ten priority elements and 17 additional elements (B, Na, Mg, Al, S, K, Ca, Mn, Co, Se, Rb, Sr, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Th) in each of the six reference samples are established. These samples should be useful for similar future studies including areas where the contamination levels are very low.

Reference materials for large-scale metal deposition surveys

This paper presents a large palaeolimnological study of the pre-industrial and industrial history of atmospheric lead pollution deposition in Sweden Both lead concentrations and 206Pb/207Pb ratios have been analysed in 31 lakes covering most of Sweden, plus one lake in north-west Russia Four of the lakes have varved (annually-laminated) sediments Isotope analysis is a sensitive and effective method to distinguish pollution lead from natural catchment lead and to detect early pollution influence, because the 206Pb/207Pb ratio in unpolluted background sediments in Sweden was > 13, while that of lead from pollution, derived from ores and coal, was < 12 The sediments show a consistent picture of past temporal changes in atmospheric lead pollution These changes include: the first traces of pollution 3,500-3,000 yrs ago; a pollution peak in Greek-Roman Times (about 0 AD); lower lead fall-out between 400 and 900 AD; a significant and permanent increase in atmospheric lead fall-out from about 1000 AD; an increase with the Industrial revolution; a major increase following World War II; the maximum peak in the 1970s; and decreasing fall-out over the last decades The four varved sediments provide high-resolution records of atmospheric pollution They reveal pollution peaks about 1200 and 1530 AD which match the history of metal production in Europe According to the varve records the lead pollution level in the late 1990s had decreased beneath the level of the 1530s The pollution level 1200 AD was about 35% of the 1980s, when lead pollution was still near its all time high About 50% of the total accumulated atmospheric lead pollution deposition through time was deposited in the pre-industrial period The sediments also show a consistent picture of the geographic distribution of atmospheric lead deposition over time, with higher deposition in south Sweden and declining levels to the north, which supports the hypothesis that the main sources of pre-industrial atmospheric lead pollution in Sweden were cultural areas in mainland Europe and Great Britain

Four thousand years of atmospheric lead pollution in northern Europe: a summary from Swedish lake sediments

Stable lead isotopes and lake sediments--a useful combination for the study of atmospheric lead pollution history.

Moss (Hylocomium splendens) used as biomonitor of atmospheric trace element deposition: Estimation of uptake efficiencies

Atmospheric heavy metal deposition in northern Europe including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and adjacent areas of Russia, was monitored by moss technique Total concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, nickel vanadium and zinc were analysed Results are presented in the form of maps The regional deposition pattern shows a decreasing gradient from relatively high values in the southern parts of Scandinavia to low values towards the North The gradient is steep for cadmium, lead and vanadium, whereas the concentrations of chromium, copper, iron, nickel and zinc show weaker gradients Lead, which originates from anthropogenic emission sources, is found in lower concentrations in the arctic regions of Svalbard and Iceland Chromium, copper, iron, and vanadium, originating also from soil dust or volcanic activity, are found in high concentrations in sparsely vegetated arctic regions Important local enhancements of the concentrations in moss were found superimposed on the regional background pattern in northern Sweden at the smelter at Roennskaer, in Norway at Odda, in Finland at the copper and nickel smelter in Harjavalta and at the steel mill in Tornio, as well as in Russia in the western part of the Kola peninsula, especially at the great smelting combinates in Nikel and Monchegorsk Higher levels of metals are found in the industrial north-eastern area of Estonia, close to Liepaja (steel mill) and Riga in Latvia and at Mazeikiai (oil refinery) in Lithuania, and in the metropolitan area of St Petersburg as well as industrial areas in the NW, SW and SE of the Leningrad oblast A significant decrease in the concentrations of most elements was found (AB) (14 refs)

Atmospheric heavy metal deposition in Northern Europe 1990

Absolute deposition maps of heavy metals for the Nordic countries based on moss surveys

In a joint Nordic project the atmospheric heavy metal deposition as reflected in the concentrations in moss, was monitored in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden in 1985. The aims of the project were to assess the regional and temporal variability of the atmospheric deposition of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, nickel, vanadium and zinc. In this presentation only the data for nickel and lead are given. For all metals the concentration levels are higher in southern Fennoscandia than in the northern parts of the area. Some local emission sources are clearly revealed as hot spot areas upon the general background levels. Comparisons with similar investigations in Sweden every 5th year since the late 60’s showed a distinct reduction in concentrations during the period.

Å. Rühling

Papers

Atmospheric heavy metal deposition in Northern Europe 1990

Absolute deposition maps of heavy metals for the Nordic countries based on moss surveys

Atmospheric Heavy Metal Deposition in Northern Europe Measured by Moss Analyses