Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of atmospheric deposition in Central Russia using moss biomonitors, neutron activation analysis and GIS technologies

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Moss biomonitoring technique was applied to study peculiarities of the spatial distribution of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals on the territory of the Vladimir and Yaroslavl regions of Russia. During the summer 2018, samples of the terrestrial mosses Pleurosium shreberi were collected at the 126 sites evenly distributed over the territory of investigated regions. The combination of neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry allowed to determine more than 30 elements in moss samples. To identify the main sources of air pollution multivariate data analysis technique—factor analysis was applied, while the deposition patterns of pollutants was illustrated using GIS technology. Median values of the elements were compared with the results obtained for other regions in Russia, which participated in moss survey studies. The contamination factors, Geo-accumulation Index and pollution load index were calculated for the following elements As, Sb, Pb, V, Cd, W, Fe, Cr, Ni and Co. The dominant anthropogenic sources of air pollutants in studied regions can be attributed to industrial activity and transport.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kara M, Odabasi M, Dumanoglu Y, Falay E, Tuna TG, Altiok H, Bayram A, Tolunay D, Elbir T (2019) Investigation of atmospheric pollution by biomonitoring of major and trace elements in an industrial region. J Environ Sci Eng. https://doi.org/10.12974/2311-8741.2019.07.03

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Stafilov T, Balabanova B, Šajn R, Bačeva K (2014) In: Jorma Mohamed J (ed) Moss: Classification, development and growth and functional role in ecosystems. Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge

    Google Scholar 

  3. Meyer C, Diaz-de-Quijano M, Monna F, Franchi M, Toussaint ML, Gilbert D, Bernard N (2015) Characterisation and distribution of deposited trace elements transported over long and intermediate distances in north-eastern France using Sphagnum peatlands as a sentinel ecosystem. Atmos Environ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.11.041

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Bargagli R, Brown DH, Nelli L (1995) Metal biomonitoring with mosses: procedures for correcting for soil contamination. Environ Pollut. https://doi.org/10.1016/0269-7491(94)00055-I

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Rühling Å, Tyler G (1968) An ecological approach to the lead problem. Bot Not 121(3):321–342

    Google Scholar 

  6. Harmens H, Norris DA, Steinnes E et al (2010) Mosses as biomonitors of atmospheric heavy metal deposition: spatial and temporal trends in Europe. Environ Pollut. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2010.06.039

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Harmens H, Norris DA, Sharps K et al (2015) Heavy metal and nitrogen concentrations in mosses are declining across Europe whilst some “hotspots” remain in 2010. Environ Pollut. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2015.01.036

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ermakova E, Frontasyeva M, Steinnes E (2004) Air pollution studies in Central Russia (Tula Region) using the moss biomonitoring technique, INAA and AAS. J Radioanal Nucl Chem. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JRNC.0000015805.22707.a1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Vergel K, Frontasyeva M, Kamanina I, Pavlov S (2009) Biomonitoring atmosphernukh vupadenii tyazeluh metallov na severo-vostoke Moskovskoi oblasti s pomosh’yu metoda mhov-biomonitorov. Ecology of urbanized areas III, 88–95. (in Russian)

  10. Vergel K, Zinicovscaia I, Yushin N, Frontasyeva MV (2019) Heavy metal atmospheric deposition study in Moscow Region, Russia. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-019-02672-4

  11. Vergel K, Frontasyeva M, Pavlov S, Povtoreyko E (2007) Air pollution studies in Tver region of Russia using moss-biomonitoring with nuclear analytical methods. AIP Conf Proc. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2825797

  12. Ermakova E, Frontasyeva M, Pavlov S, Povtoreiko E, Steinnes E, Cheremisina Y (2004) Air pollution studies in central Russia (Tver and Yaroslavl regions) using the moss biomonitoring technique and neutron activation analysis. J Atmos Chem. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-004-1265-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Gorelova S, Babicheva D, Frontasyeva M, Vergel K, Volkova E (2016) Atmospheric deposition of trace elements in central Russia: Tula Region case study. Comparison of different moss species for biomonitoring. Int J Environ Sci 10:220–229

    Google Scholar 

  14. Pankratova Yu, Frontasyeva M, Berdnikov A, Pavlov S (2007) Air pollution studies in the republic of Udmurtia, Russian Federation, using moss biomonitoring and INAA. Nucl Phys Methods Accel Biol Med. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2825794

  15. Korolyova Yu (2010) The bioindication of heavy metal precipitation in the Kaliningrad region. Bull Kant Russ State Univ VII:39–44

  16. Barkan V, Lyanguzova I (2018) Concentration of heavy metals in dominant moss species as an indicator of aerial technogenic load. Russ J Ecol 49(2):128–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. CLRTAP (2015) Manual on methodologies and criteria for modelling and mapping critical loads and levels and air pollution effects, risks and trends. UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. http://icpvegetation.ceh.ac.uk. Accessed 26 June 2016

  18. Zinicovscaia I, Hramco C, Duliu OG, Vergel K, Culicov OA, Frontasyeva MV, Duca Gh (2017) Air pollution study in the Republic of Moldova using moss biomonitoring technique. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1989-y

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Barandovski L, Frontasyeva MV, Stafilov T, Šajn R, Ostrovnaya TM (2015) Multi-element atmospheric deposition in Macedonia studied by the moss biomonitoring technique. Environ Sci Pollut Res. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4787-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Pavlov SS, Dmitriev AYU, Frontasyeva MV (2016) Automation system for neutron activation analysis at the reactor IBR-2, Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia. J Radioanal Nucl Chem. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4864-8

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Stafilov T, Šajn RT, Barandovski L, Bačeva Andonovska K, Malinovska S (2018) Moss biomonitoring of atmospheric deposition study of minor and trace elements in Macedonia. Air Qual Atmos Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-017-0529-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Malinowski ER (2002) Factor analysis in chemistry, 3rd edn. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  23. Vergel K, Goryainova Z, Vikhrova I, Frontasyeva MV (2014) Moss biomonitoring and employment of the GIS technology within the framework of the assessment of air pollution by industrial enterprises in the Tikhvin district of the Leningrad region. J Ecol Urban Territ 2:92–101 (in Russian)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Dunaev AM, Rumyancev IV, Agapova IB, Grinevich VI, Vergel KN, Gundorina SF (2018) Fiziko-himicheskii I biologicheskii monitoring v centralnoi Rossii: issledovanie kachestva atmosphernogo vozduha I pochvu na territorii g. Rodniki. Izvestiya vyzov. Himiya I him tehnologia https://doi.org/10.6060/ivkkt20186108.5721. (in Russian)

  25. Ceburnis D, Rühling Å, Kvietkus K (1997) Extended study of atmospheric heavy metal deposition in Lithuania based on moss analysis. Environ Monit Assess. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005779101732

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Vučković I, Špirić Z, Stafilov T, Kušan V (2013) Moss biomonitoring of air pollution with chromium in Croatia. J Environ Sci Heal A. https://doi.org/10.1080/10934529.2013.744661

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Radziemska M, Mazur Z, Bes A, Majewski G, Gusiatin ZM, Brtnicky M (2019) Using mosses as bioindicators of potentially toxic element contamination in ecologically valuable areas located in the vicinity of a road: a case study. J Environ Res Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16203963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Fernandez JA, Carballeira A (2001) Evaluation of contamination, by different elements, in terrestrial mosses. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002440010198

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank members of the staff of the Department of Activation Analysis and Applied Research of FLNP, JINR for handling of radioactive samples.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russian Federation, 141980

    Konstantin Vergel, Inga Zinicovscaia, Nikita Yushin & Svetlana Gundorina

  2. Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Bucharest, Magurele, Romania

    Inga Zinicovscaia

Authors
  1. Konstantin Vergel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Inga Zinicovscaia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nikita Yushin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Svetlana Gundorina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Inga Zinicovscaia.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Vergel, K., Zinicovscaia, I., Yushin, N. et al. Assessment of atmospheric deposition in Central Russia using moss biomonitors, neutron activation analysis and GIS technologies. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 325, 807–816 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07234-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07234-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation