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).
Highlights
Since 1990, every 5 years, moss sampling is conducted within the European moss monitoring programme to assess the atmospheric deposition of airborne pollutants
This study aims for reporting on the determination of selected organic contaminants in moss samples from Germany taken within the framework of the 2015 European moss survey
Within the statistically designed moss monitoring network covering Germany [39], moss samples for the analysis of organic contaminants were taken in November 2016 at eight sites which were located close to areas where tree leaves as bioindicators of atmospheric pollution are routinely sampled within the Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) programme of the German Environment Agency
Summary
Since 1990, every 5 years, moss sampling is conducted within the European moss monitoring programme to assess the atmospheric deposition of airborne pollutants. Dreyer et al Environ Sci Eur (2018) 30:43 identified as substances of environmental as well as human concern Besides their persistence, POP are toxic to humans and wildlife, accumulate significantly in living organisms and are transported over long distances [49]. Decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) or Dechlorane Plus (DP) were introduced as alternative for DecaBDE [47, 58] Such substitutes might not meet all POP criteria, they often share properties as those substances they were designed to replace and might be harmful to the environment or to humans. It is important to monitor classical POP and to investigate their substitutes or compounds with (anticipated) POP-like properties
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