Moss biomonitoring of atmospheric deposition study of minor and trace elements in Macedonia

Abstract

In the framework of the International Cooperative Program on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (UNECE ICP Vegetation), in 2002, 2005, and 2010, a moss biomonitoring technique was applied to air pollution studies in the Republic of Macedonia. А fourth moss survey took place in August and September 2015, when 72 samples of the terrestrial moss samples were collected over the territory of the country. Using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), a total of 22 elements (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, V, and Zn) were determined. By comparing the obtained values from all of the surveys, it can be concluded that almost all potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) increased in content in moss samples from 2002 to 2005 but decreased in the samples from 2010 to 2015. Increased values from 2005 to 2015 were observed for Cd and Pb, which is likely due to the reactivation of mining for lead and zinc in Eastern Macedonia, with large amounts of floatation tailings deposited in the landfills as well as due to the increased capacity of the ferronickel smelter near the city of Kavadarci. From data obtained in 2015, a factor analysis was performed to identify and characterize different pollution sources. Distributional maps for all elements were also prepared to point out the regions that were the most affected by anthropogenic activities. The survey conducted in 2015 showed that the situation with air pollution by potentially toxic metals in Macedonia is similar to that established in 2010. This is because all activities in the fields of mining and metallurgy were in continuous work with the same capacity during that five-year period. Still, the largest anthropogenic impact of air pollution with heavy metals established a smelter for ferronickel near Kavadarci (Ni and Cr) and lead and zinc mines in the vicinity of Probistip, Makedonska Kamenica, and Kriva Palanka (Cd, Pb, and Zn).