Article: How lichens and mosses reflect atmospheric deposition of natural and artificial radionuclides Journal: International Journal of Environment and Health (IJENVH) 2010 Vol.4 No.2/3 pp.137 - 150 Abstract: In a national survey in Slovenia, two biomonitors, the epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes and the terrestrial moss Hypnum cupressiforme, were analysed for 210Pb and 137Cs. Further, the results for 210Pb were compared with outdoor 222Rn and with precipitation data. 210Pb activity concentrations in moss carpets and lichen thalli ranged between 180–2450 and 200–1990 Bq kg−1, respectively. 210Pb showed similar spatial distributions in the two biomonitors with the highest levels in north-western and southern parts of the country, with a strong gradient to the eastern part, reflecting the movement of global air masses and the amount of precipitation. Increased 222Rn concentrations over carbonate rocks were not reflected in lichen and moss 210Pb levels. 137Cs activity concentrations in lichens and mosses in the ranges 73–1400 and 49–600 Bq kg−1, respectively, were obtained. There was a relatively good agreement between the two biomonitors, with the highest values in the northern part of the country. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: How lichens and mosses reflect atmospheric deposition of natural and artificial radionuclides

Authors: Zvonka Jeran, Janja Vaupotic, David Kocman, Damijana Kastelec

Addresses: Department of Environmental Sciences, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. ' Department of Environmental Sciences, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. ' Department of Environmental Sciences, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. ' Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract: In a national survey in Slovenia, two biomonitors, the epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes and the terrestrial moss Hypnum cupressiforme, were analysed for ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs. Further, the results for ²¹⁰Pb were compared with outdoor ²²²Rn and with precipitation data. ²¹⁰Pb activity concentrations in moss carpets and lichen thalli ranged between 180–2450 and 200–1990 Bq kg⁻¹, respectively. ²¹⁰Pb showed similar spatial distributions in the two biomonitors with the highest levels in north-western and southern parts of the country, with a strong gradient to the eastern part, reflecting the movement of global air masses and the amount of precipitation. Increased ²²²Rn concentrations over carbonate rocks were not reflected in lichen and moss ²¹⁰Pb levels. ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations in lichens and mosses in the ranges 73–1400 and 49–600 Bq kg⁻¹, respectively, were obtained. There was a relatively good agreement between the two biomonitors, with the highest values in the northern part of the country.

Keywords: atmospheric deposition; biomonitoring; Hypogymnia physodes; Hypnum cupressiforme; radionuclides; 210Pb; 137Cs; radon; outdoor air; track etch detectors; long-term measurements; correlation; Slovenia; lichens; mosses; biomonitors; air pollution; air quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2010.033704

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2010 Vol.4 No.2/3, pp.137 - 150

Published online: 29 Jun 2010 *

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Title: How lichens and mosses reflect atmospheric deposition of natural and artificial radionuclides

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