Mosses as a biomonitor to identify elements released into the air as a result of car workshop activities

Abstract

Human activity as a result of civilization development contributes to creating new sources of environmental pollution. Air pollution is one of the major problems because it affects the fauna and flora, and people themselves. There is a lack of public awareness of the level of atmospheric analytes pollution emitted from people's occupational and recreational (leisure) activities. A quick, cheap and easy way to investigate the state of the environment is to use organisms-biomonitors that indicate the level of environmental pollution. The study aimed to assess air pollution in an urban area using three moss species: Sphagnum fallax, Pleurozium schreberi and Dicranum polysetum. Mosses were exposed for 90 days, and the effects of traffic and car workshop activity on the increments in elemental concentrations were assessed using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (F-AAS). The actual quantum yield of Photo System II (PSII) photochemical was also analyzed to assess changes in moss vitality during the experiment. The results showed that the concentrations of individual elements in mosses and thus in the atmospheric aerosol depend on the site of exposure. The difference in analyte concentrations between outdoor and indoor environments depends on the type of element and its source. The mosses exposed in the workshop were good bioaccumulators of elements such as Al, Cr, Fe and Ba, whose concentrations were higher inside than outside and their emission sources related to the activities of the car workshop were defined. The mosses remained vital in the air during the exposure period, while they worked as a natural sorbent inside the workshop.