Estimation of Heavy Metals Concentrations in Outdoor Air Using Mosses*

Rivera, Marcela; Zechmeister, Harald G.; Medina-Ramón, Mercedes; Basagaña, Xavier; Bouso, Laura; Foraster, María; Deltell, Alexandre; Targa, Jaume; Solanas, Pascual; Ramos, Rafael; Vizcaya, David; Küenzli, Nino

doi:10.1097/01.ede.0000362941.62234.99

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“…Comparing initial concentrations before exposure with concentrations after exposure (Tables 1 and 2), elevated loads of metals were found in all outdoor mosses. There were significant correlations between Cr, Mo, Sb, and Sn in moss and traffic densities based on the data set at hand, evaluated by Rivera et al [22,23]. There were significant correlations between these metals and average daily traffic (r: 0.81, p < 0.0001) and the bus lines circulating in the nearest street (r: 0.91, p < 0.0001]) [23].…”

Section: Outdoor Situationsmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…An important goal of this study was to identify a proper tool for indoor monitoring to estimate the pollution exposure of participants of the REGICOR study, a population-based prospective cohort study. Results of moss-samplers monitoring in outdoor environments at the participant's home were already published [22,23]. However, data on indoor monitoring had not been published since.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Indoor monitoring of heavy metals and NO2 using active monitoring by moss and Palmes diffusion tubes

et al. 2020

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Background Indoor pollution is a real threat to human health all over the world. Indoor pollution derives from indoor sources (e.g. smoking, gas stoves, coated furniture) as well as from outdoor sources (e.g. industries, vehicles). Long-term monitoring measurements in indoor environments are missing to a large extent due to a lack of simple to operate measuring devices. Mosses proved well as biomonitors in hundreds of studies. Nevertheless, indoor use has been extremely scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to determine indoor and outdoor pollution by active biomonitoring using moss as well as NO2 samplers to analyse outdoor and indoor levels of pollution. We exposed moss (Pleurozium schreberi) for 8 weeks indoors and outdoors in 20 households in the city of Girona, Spain. Al, Cr, Cu, Zn, Sn, Cd, Pb, Mo, and Sb were analysed by moss-samplers. Additionally, NO2 was measured with Palmes diffusion tubes. Results Compared to the pre-exposure analysis, concentrations of almost all elements both on indoor and outdoor mosses increased. Except for Cd, all metals and NO2 had, on average, higher concentrations in outdoor mosses than at corresponding indoor sites. However, some 20% of the samples showed inverse patterns, thus, indicating both indoor and outdoor sources. Indoor/outdoor correlations of elements were not significant, but highest for markers of traffic-related pollution, such as Sn, Sb, and NO2. The wide range of indoor–outdoor ratios of NO2 exemplified the relevance of indoor sources such as smoking or gas cooking. Though mostly excluded in this study, a few sites had these sources present. Conclusions The study at hand showed that moss exposed at indoor sites could be a promising tool for long-time biomonitoring. However, it had also identified some drawbacks that should be considered in future indoor studies. Increments of pollutants were sometimes really low compared to the initial concentration and therefore not detectable. This fact hampers the investigation of elements with low basic element levels as, e.g. Pt. Therefore, moss with real low basic levels is needed for active monitoring, especially for future studies in indoor monitoring. Cloned material could be a proper material for indoor monitoring yet never was tested for this purpose.

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Section: Outdoor Situationsmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%