Moss Biomonitoring of Atmospheric Pollution with Trace Elements in the Moscow Region, Russia

Abstract

For the first time, moss biomonitoring covering the territory of the entire Moscow region, without including Moscow, was performed in 2020. Moss Pleurozium schreberi collected at 156 sampling sites were analyzed using neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry. A total of 34 elements were determined in moss samples. Obtained data were compared with the results of the moss surveys performed in the Vladimir and Yaroslavl regions in 2018 and with the data of moss surveys conducted in the Moscow region on a limited number of sampling sites in 2004 and 2014. The Moscow region showed to be more polluted than the Vladimir and Yaroslavl regions. In the the Moscow region, the decrease of the content of the main part of the elements over time was noted. Trace elements emission sources were identified and characterized using factor analysis. Contamination Factor, Pollution Load Index, and Ecological Risk were calculated to assess the level of the region contamination and elements effect on human health. In general, the Moscow region can be characterized as unpolluted to moderately polluted with a low ecological risk of human exposure. The cities satellites around Moscow were determined to experience particular environmental stress, even in the period of the COVID-19 restrictions.

Mortality and heavy metals environmental exposure: a study in dogs

“…This unique geographical conformation entails the close proximity of rural areas and cities, along with a miscellany of pets and sylvatic animals, which, in turn, share the same environmental stressors. Thus, consistent with scientific literature (10)(11)(12)(13), metals extracted from WB organs (liver and kidney) provide an overview of the metal exposure of pets and humans.…”

“…WB, as consolidated in scientific literature, are good environmental biomonitors and are therefore useful to monitor persistent pollutants in the habitats of ungulates (10)(11)(12)(13)(17)(18)(19)(20). Biomonitor data shows that 39% of the Ligurian municipalities investigated have cadmium concentrations above the EU limit (0.50 mg/kg), while all investigated municipalities have lead concentrations above the EU limit (0.10 mg/kg).…”

“…Among the most widely used living proxies, moss serves as a key biomonitoring matrix for the temporal assessment of trace element air pollution levels. Moss biomonitoring has been applied to air pollution studies in the Republic of Moldova as part of the International Cooperative Program on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops (UNECE ICP Vegetation) (10)(11)(12)(13). According to a report by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (11, 14), the concentration of heavy metals in precipitation is correlated with their concentration detected in soil.…”

“…In long-term studies, living organisms could provide a better understanding of environmental impacts over time by comparing environmental matrices. Analyses on living organisms can summarize all biological, chemical, physical factors monitored using environmental matrices and can give us an holistic overview of environmental changes (10)(11)(12)(13). Thus, biomonitors provide a more comprehensive assessment of the ecosystem compared to monitoring based solely on environmental matrices.…”

Біріккен Ұлттар Ұйымының Бағдарламасы Туралы «Еуропадағы Ауыр Металдардың Атмосфералық Шөгінділері - Биомонитор Мүктерін Талдауға Негізделген Бағалаулар»

“…Силами Сектора НАА ЛНФ ОИЯИ были также проведены пилотные исследования в Центральной России (Тульская область [21], Тверская и Ярославская области [22]), на Западной Украине [23], в северной Сербии и Боснии [24], а в 2002 году -в Македонии [25] совместно со специалистами этих стран. В последующие годы число научных групп, сотрудничающих с ЛНФ ОИЯИ, существенно увеличилось: присоединились Хорватия [26], Греция [27,28], Албания [29], Италия, Нидерланды, Молдова [30], Монголия, Таджикистан [31], Турция [32]; Азербайджан [33], Армения [34], Беларусь [35], Грузия [36]; расширился круг участников в Российской Федерации: Московская [37], Владимирская, Ленинградская, Самарская [38], Рязанская, области, а также Южный Урал (Удмуртия) [39] и Северный Кавказ (Республика Ичкерия, Северная Осетия [40]). Кроме того, была проведена большая работа по привлечению в Программу научных групп нескольких университетов и средних школ к сбору мхов-биомониторов в тех регионах, где они находились.…”