Evaluation of Zinc Accumulation in Moss (Pylaisia polyantha) Growing Near Intensive Traffic Street Based on Modelling and Experimental Data

Abstract

Pylaisia polyantha moss growing near intensive traffic in Geležinis Vilkas street at Vingis Park (Vilnius) was selected as an indicator of environmental pollution. Two models were applied for the study: the Gaussian plume model – for zinc emission from automobiles calculation and mathematical model – for recalculating the zinc emission from transport to zinc concentration in moss. Moss samples were collected during spring, summer and autumn. There were no significant changes in Zn concentrations between these periods. Zn emission dispersion from pollution source was calculated only for one vehicle, in order to reach relationships between environmental conditions and dispersion of Zn emission from vehicle exhaust fumes pipe. It was detected that the concentration of Zn tends to decrease with the distance from the pollution source. It was observed that there was a strong relationship between wind speed and Zn concentration – the slower the wind speed, the higher concentration of zinc in moss.

Assessment of Atmospheric Pollution by Selected Elements and PAHs during 12-Month Active Biomonitoring of Terrestrial Mosses

“…Despite the fact that the contribution of this element is (regardless of moss species) about 10%, its concentrations are low in relation to literature studies. Research carried out in Lithuania (Vingis Park, the largest park in Vilnius) indicates strong zinc contamination, especially when sampling the moss Pylaisia polyantha 5 m from the road, where the concentrations reached, depending on the period of sampling, around 300 mg/kg; the results of the study clearly indicate a strong traffic-related gradient-the zinc concentration in moss samples tends to decrease with the distance from the source of contamination-Geležinis Vilkas Street [93]. In comparison, our own research conducted on three moss species (the same as in this study) indicates that zinc concentrations in moss samples exposed next to the roadway at a distance of approximately 5 m were 8-19 µg/g [68], indicating that intensity of use and traffic volume will influence the final concentration result [94,95], and this demonstrates the low level of air pollution in the study area.…”