Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Moss bag (Sphagnum papillosum) magnetic and elemental properties for characterising seasonal and spatial variation in urban pollution

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigates the seasonal and spatial variation of traffic-induced particle matter in order to evaluate the pollutant distribution and the representativeness of the single air quality monitoring station in the city centre of Turku, southwest Finland. Study focused on parks, kindergarten and school yards as well as heavily trafficked sites. Sampling was done using active magnetic biomonitoring, which is highly applicable in polluted areas lacking native species. Sphagnum papillosum moss bags were exposed separately in road dust period, which is experienced after snow melt and the resuspension of sanding material in spring, and summer season for about 60 days in 2013. Moss bags are magnetically and elementally (e.g. Al, Cr, Fe, Na, Ni, Pb) more enriched in road dust period and near heavily trafficked sites than in summer season and in the courtyard or park sites. Magnetic properties indicate that particle matter is composed of fine-grained pseudo-single-domain magnetite towards superparamagnetic–single-domain grain sizes. Intensive road dust period overrides the variation of prevailing conditions as indicated by three paired samples showing finer grain sizes and higher element levels in courtyard/park sites than in traffic sites in summer. The results emphasise the effectiveness of active magnetic biomonitoring for the assessment of spatially representative air quality monitoring stations and related modelling approaches.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alaviippola B, Pietarila H, Hakola H, Hellén H, Salmi T (2007) Ilmanlaadun alustava arviointi Suomessa. Arseeni, kadmium, nikkeli, elohopea ja polysykliset aromaattiset hiilivedyt (= PAH-yhdisteet). Ilmatieteen laitos, Ilmanlaadun asiantuntijapalvelut. 120 p. (in Finnish)

  • Bajpai R, Shukla V, Upreti DK (2013) Impact assessment of anthropogenic activities on air quality, using lichen Remototrachyna awasthii as biomonitor. Int J Environ Sci Technol 10(6):1287–1294. doi:10.1007/s13762-012-0156-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castañeda Miranda AG, Chaparro MAE, Chaparro MAE, Böhnel HN (2016) Magnetic properties of Tillandsia recurvata L. and its use for biomonitoring a Mexican metropolitan area. Ecol Indic 60:125–136. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.06.025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaparro MAE, Lavornia JM, Chaparro AE, Sinito AM (2013) Biomonitors of urban air pollution: magnetic studies and SEM observations of corticolous foliose and microfoliose lichens and their suitability for magnetic monitoring. Environ Pollut 172:61–69. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2012.08.006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dearing J (1999) Environmental magnetic susceptibility. Using the Bartington MS2 system. Bartington Instruments, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Dekkers MJ (1997) Environmental magnetism: an introduction. Geol Mijnbouw 76(1):163–182. doi:10.1023/A:1003122305503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunlop DJ (2002) Theory and application of the Day plot (Mrs/Ms versus Hcr/Hc) 1. Theoretical curves and tests using titanomagnetite data. J Geophys Res. doi:10.1029/2001JB000486

    Google Scholar 

  • Duong TTT, Lee B-K (2011) Determining contamination level of heavy metals in road dust from busy traffic areas with different characteristics. J Environ Manage 92(3):554–562. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.09.010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ELY-keskus [Elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus] (2013) Talvihoito. <https://www.ely-keskus.fi/web/ely/talvihoito?p_p_id=122_INSTANCE_aluevalinta&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_r_p_564233524_resetCur=true&p_r_p_564233524_categoryId=14252#.VZOGUGNqOtH> Accessed Jul 1 2015. (in Finnish)

  • Finnish Standards Association (1994) SFS 5794. Air protection. Bioindication. Moss bag method

  • Gasana J, Dillikar D, Mendy A, Forno E, Vieira ER (2012) Motor vehicle air pollution and asthma in children: a meta-analysis. Environ Res 117:36–45. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2012.05.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gertler A, Kuhns H, Abu-Allaban M, Damm C, Gillies J, Etyemezian V, Clayton R, Profitt D (2006) A case study of the impact of winter road sand/salt and street sweeping on road dust re-entrainment. Atmos Environ 40(31):5976–5985. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2005.12.047

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hansard R, Maher BA, Kinnersley RP (2012) Rapid magnetic biomonitoring and differentiation of atmospheric particulate pollutants at the roadside and around two major industrial sites in the UK. Environ Sci Technol 46(8):4403–4410. doi:10.1021/es203275r

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • HEI [Health Effects Institute] (2010) Traffic-related air pollution: a critical review of the literature on emissions, exposure, and health effects. Special report 17. Boston, Massachusetts

  • Ilmanlaadun asiantuntijapalvelut (2010) Turun seudun päästöjen leviämismalliselvitys. Ilmatieteen laitos, Helsinki. (in Finnish)

  • Ilmanlaatuportaali (2015) Tarkistetut mittaustulokset. <http://www.ilmanlaatu.fi/tarkistetut_tulokset/> Accessed Oct 12 2015. (in Finnish)

  • Järup L (2006) Hazards of heavy metal contamination. Br Med Bull 68(1):167–182. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldg032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jordanova D, Petrov P, Hoffmann V, Gocht T, Panaiotu C, Tsacheva T, Jordanova N (2010) Magnetic signature of different vegetation species in polluted environment. Stud Geophys Geod 54(3):417–442. doi:10.1007/s11200-010-0025-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jussila I (1997) Porin–Harjavallan ja Pohjois-Satakunnan alueen ilman laadun seuranta bioindikaattorien avulla vuosina 1996–1997. Turun yliopisto, Satakunnan ympäristöntutkimuslaitos. Sykesarja B 12, Pori. 78 p. (in Finnish)

  • Jussila I (2003) Porin–Harjavallan alueen sammalpallotutkimukset vuosina 2001–2002. Turun yliopisto, Satakunnan ympäristöntutkimuslaitos. Sykesarja B 15, Pori. 112 p. (in Finnish)

  • Kampa M, Castanas E (2008) Human health effects of air pollution. Environ Pollut 151(2):362–367. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2007.06.012

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhns H, Etyemezian V, Green M, Hendrickson K, McGown M, Barton K, Pitchford M (2003) Vehicle-based road dust emission measurement—Part II: effect of precipitation, wintertime road sanding, and street sweepers on inferred PM10 emission potentials from paved and unpaved roads. Atmos Environ 37(32):4573–4582. doi:10.1016/S1352-2310(03)00529-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kupiainen K (2007) Road dust from pavement wear and traction sanding. Monographs of the Boreal Environment Research, Finnish Environmental Institute, Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Qian X, Wang Q (2013) Heavy metals in atmospheric particulate matter: a comprehensive understanding is needed for monitoring and risk mitigation. Environ Sci Technol 47(23):13210–13211. doi:10.1021/es404751a

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maher BA, Moore C, Matzka J (2008) Spatial variation in vehicle-derived metal pollution identified by magnetic and elemental analysis of roadside tree leaves. Atmos Environ 42(2):364–373. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.09.013

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell R, Maher BA (2009) Evaluation and application of biomagnetic monitoring of traffic-derived particulate pollution. Atmos Environ 43(13):2095–2103. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2009.01.042

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • National Land Survey of Finland (2013) Topographic. Database 1(10):000

    Google Scholar 

  • Ng SL, Chan LS, Lam KC, Chan WK (2003) Heavy metal contents and magnetic properties of playground dust in Hong Kong. Environ Monit Assess 89(3):221–232. doi:10.1023/A:1026103318778

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Özdemir Ö, Dunlop DJ, Moskowitz BM (2002) Changes in remanence, coercivity and domain state at low temperature in magnetite. Earth Planet Sci Lett 194(3–4):343–358. doi:10.1016/S0012-821X(01)00562-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peltier RE, Cromar KR, Ma Y, Fan Z-H, Lippmann M (2011) Spatial and seasonal distribution of aerosol chemical components in New York City: (2) road dust and other tracers of traffic-generated air pollution. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 21(5):484–494. doi:10.1038/jes.2011.15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pope CA, Dockery DW (2006) Health effects of fine particulate air pollution: lines that connect. J Air Waste Manage Assoc 56(6):709–742. doi:10.1080/10473289.2006.10464485

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roy S, Byrne J, Pickering C (2012) A systematic quantitative review of urban tree benefits, costs, and assessment methods across cities in different climatic zones. Urban For Urban Green 11(4):351–363. doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2012.06.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sagnotti L (2007) Iron sulfides. In: Gubbins D, Herrero-Bervera E (eds) Encyclopedia of geomagnetism and paleomagnetism. Springer, Amsterdam, pp 453–454

    Google Scholar 

  • Sagnotti L, Taddeucci J, Winkler A, Cavallo A (2009) Compositional, morphological, and hysteresis characterization of magnetic airborne particulate matter in Rome, Italy. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 10(8):Q08Z06. doi:10.1029/2009GC002563

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salmond JA, Williams DE, Laining G, Kingham S, Dirks K, Longley I, Henshaw GS (2013) The influence of vegetation on the horizontal and vertical distribution of pollutants in a street canyon. Sci Total Environ 443:287–298. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.10.101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salo H, Mäkinen J (2014) Magnetic biomonitoring by moss bags for industry-derived air pollution in SW Finland. Atmos Environ 97:19–27. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.08.003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salo H, Berisha A-K, Mäkinen J (2016) Seasonal comparison of moss bag technique against vertical snow samples for monitoring atmospheric pollution. J Environmen Sci 41:128–137. doi:10.1016/j.jes.2015.04.021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salo H, Bućko M, Vaahtovuo E, Limo J, Mäkinen J, Pesonen L (2012) Biomonitoring of air pollution in SW Finland by magnetic and chemical measurements of moss bags and lichens. J Geochem Explor 115:69–81. doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2012.02.009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz J (2004) Air pollution and children’s health. Pediatrics 113(4):1037–1043

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwarze PE, Øvrevik J, Låg M, Refsnes M, Nafstad P, Hetland RB, Dybing E (2006) Particulate matter properties and health effects: consistency of epidemiological and toxicological studies. Hum Exp Toxicol 25(10):559–579. doi:10.1177/096032706072520

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Setälä H, Viippola V, Rantalainen AL, Pennanen A, Yli-Pelkonen V (2013) Does urban vegetation mitigate air pollution in northern conditions? Environ Pollut 183:104–112. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2012.11.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shah PS, Balkhair T (2011) Air pollution and birth outcomes: a systematic review. Environ Int 37(2):498–516. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2010.10.009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smirnov AV (2006) Memory of the magnetic field applied during cooling in the low-temperature phase of magnetite: grain size dependence. J Geophys Res 111:B12. doi:10.1029/2006JB004573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tretiach M, Pittao E, Crisafulli P, Adamo P (2011) Influence of exposure sites on trace element enrichment in moss-bags and characterization of particles deposited on the biomonitor surface. Sci Total Environ 409(4):822–830. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.10.026

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turun kaupunki (2013) Liikennemääräkartta

  • Vallius M (2005) Characteristics and sources of fine particulate matter in urban air. Publications of the National Public Health Institute, A 6/2005. National Public Health Institute, Department of Environmental Health, Kuopio

    Google Scholar 

  • Vos PEJ, Maiheu B, Vankerkom J, Janssen S (2013) Improving local air quality in cities: to tree or not to tree? Environ Pollut 183:113–122. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2012.10.021

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vuković G, Aničić Urošević M, Tomašević M, Samson R, Popović A (2015) Biomagnetic monitoring of urban air pollution using moss bags (Sphagnum girgensohnii). Ecol Indic 52:40–47. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.11.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang T, Liu Q, Li H, Zeng Q, Chan L (2010) Anthropogenic magnetic particles and heavy metals in the road dust: magnetic identification and its implications. Atmos Environ 44(9):1175–1185. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2009.12.028

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Study was funded by TOP Foundation. PP acknowledges the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation for financial support. The contribution of anonymous referees for improving this paper is highly appreciated. Authors wish to thank Miika Meretoja from Turku Environmental Protection Office for valuable information and technical support and Professor Timo Saarinen for constructive comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography and Geology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland

    H. Salo & J. Mäkinen

  2. Wihuri Physical Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland

    P. Paturi

Authors
  1. H. Salo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Paturi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Mäkinen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Salo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Salo, H., Paturi, P. & Mäkinen, J. Moss bag (Sphagnum papillosum) magnetic and elemental properties for characterising seasonal and spatial variation in urban pollution. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 13, 1515–1524 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-016-0998-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-016-0998-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation