Title: Quantitative relations between different concentrations of micro- and macroelements in mosses and lichens: the region of Opole (Poland) as an environmental interface in between Eastern and Western Europe

Authors: Andrzej Klos, Malgorzata Rajfur, Maria Waclawek, Witold Waclawek, Simone Wunschmann, Bernd Markert

Addresses: Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, University of Opole, ul. Krad. B. Kominka 4, 45-032 Opole, Poland. ' Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, University of Opole, ul. Krad. B. Kominka 4, 45-032 Opole, Poland. ' Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, University of Opole, ul. Krad. B. Kominka 4, 45-032 Opole, Poland. ' Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Opole, ul. Oleska 48, 45-054 Opole, Poland. ' Fliederweg 17, D-49733 Haren-Erika, Germany. ' Fliederweg 17, D-49733 Haren-Erika, Germany; International Graduate School Zittau, Department of Environmental High Technology, Markt 23, 02763 Zittau, Germany

Abstract: We examined the concentration of selected metals: Al, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb, as well as activity of ¹³⁷Cs in samples of moss and lichen, collected in the area surrounding Bory Stobrawskie, a wood complex situated in southern Poland. The concentration of metals was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The activity of ¹³⁷Cs was determined by gamma spectrometry. We used these results, as well as results published in the literature, to determine the correlation between the concentration of analytes in lichens and in mosses. The analysis of the function ln(c_x,moss) = lna + bln(c_x,lichen) indicated with high degree of certainty that the concentration levels of analytes accumulated in lichens and mosses were comparable, while their difference, expressed as c_relat. = 2 (c_x,lichen − c_x,moss) (c_x,lichen + c_x,moss)⁻¹, could indicate the origins of the analytes. The relations, presented here for the first time, can find application in biomonitoring.

Keywords: bioaccumulation; lichens; mosses; biomonitoring; Poland; heavy metals; environmental pollution; air pollution; air quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2010.033702

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2010 Vol.4 No.2/3, pp.98 - 119

Published online: 29 Jun 2010 *

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