Atmospheric particulate matter intercepted by moss-bags: Relations to moss trace element uptake and land use. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Di Palma, Anna; Capozzi, Fiore; Spagnuolo, Valeria; Giordano, Simonetta; Adamo, Paola
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 176(2017)
• Page Start: 361
• Page End: 368
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: Air pollution -- PM10 -- Moss biomonitoring -- Scanning electron microscope -- Microanalysis -- Pollution markers; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.02.120
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Particulate matter has to be constantly monitored because it is an important atmospheric transport form of potentially harmful contaminants. The cost-effective method of the moss-bags can be employed to evaluate both loads and chemical composition of PM. PM entrapped by the moss Pseudoscleropodium purum exposed in bags in 9 European sites was characterized for number, size and chemical composition by SEM/EDX. Moreover, moss elemental uptake of 53 elements including rare earth elements was estimated by ICP-MS analysis. All above was aimed to find possible relations between PM profile and moss uptake and to find out eventual element markers of the different land use (i.e. agricultural, urban, industrial) of the selected sites. After exposure, about 12, 000 particles, mostly within the inhalable fraction, were counted on P. purum leaves; their number generally increased from the agricultural sites to the urban and industrial ones. ICP analysis indicated that twenty-three elements were significantly accumulated by mosses with different element profile according to the various land uses. The PM from agricultural sites were mainly made of natural/crustal elements or derived from rural activities. Industrial-related PM covered a wider range of sources, from those linked to specific industrial activities, to those related to manufacturing processes or use of heavy-duty vehicles. This study indicates a close association between PM amount and moss element-uptake, which increases in parallel with PM amount. Precious metals and REEs may constitute novel markers of air pollution in urban and agricultural sites, respectively. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Mosses in bags were used to detect airborne particulate matter (PM). PM number and moss chemical composition are specific to land use. The more the PM counted on mosses, the higher the moss elemental content. Total PM number and moss uptake increase in the order agricultural – urban-industrial sites. Precious metals and REEs could be considered as novel air pollution markers.