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Distribution of rare earth elements, thorium and uranium in streams and aquatic mosses of Central Portugal

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Abstract

The distribution of 14 rare earth elements, Th and U was studied in streams of the study area at 21 sites. Aquatic mosses are known to accumulate even metabolically nonessential or toxic metals in concentrations much higher than their aqueous environment due to their unique morphology and physiology. Thus, the capacity of metal amplification in four aquatic mosses (Fontinalis squamosa, Brachythecium rivulare, Platyhypnidium riparioides and Thamnobryum alopecurum) was also evaluated as a potential bioindicator/biomonitoring tool. Thirteen REEs (0.001–2.81 μg L−1) and U were detected in the stream water. Mean content of lighter rare earth elements (LREEs) was higher than that of heavier rare earth elements (HREEs). Fourteen REEs and two actinides were detected in moss samples, including Yb and Th which were below detection level in water samples. LREE uptake (0.17–12.2 mg kg−1) was greater than HREE uptake (0.02–0.78 mg kg−1) in all mosses. Uptake of LREEs was observed in the order: B. rivulare >T. alopecurum >F. squamosa >P. riparioides and that of HREEs in the order: T. alopecurum >B. rivulare >F. squamosa >P. riparioides. Mean U content (0.68–1.62 mg kg−1) in the mosses was found in the order: B. rivulare >F. squamosa >T. alopecurum >P. riparioides. Th content ranged from 0.4 to 2.36 mg kg−1 in the order: B. rivulare >T. alopecurum >P. riparioides >F. squamosa. One-way ANOVA indicated a statistically significant difference (P ≤ 0.01) in mean concentrations of all elements (individually) in moss samples except for U. Highest bioconcentration factors of six REEs each were observed in B. rivulare (La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb and Dy) and T. alopecurum (Nd, Gd, Ho, Er, Tm and Lu). The highest BCFs for Pr and U were obtained in F. squamosa and P. riparioides, respectively. These species hold promise for biomonitoring studies in the future.

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Acknowledgements

This study had the support of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), through the strategic project UID/MAR/04292/2013 granted to MARE. We especially thank Inês Silva for assisting in moss identification. The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for critically examining the matter and also for their valuable and constructive comments and suggestions, which have considerably improved the quality of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3001-401, Coimbra, Portugal

    João Pratas

  2. School of Life Sciences and the Environment, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, UTAD, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal

    Paulo J. C. Favas

  3. Department of Botany, St. John’s College, Agra, 282 002, India

    Mayank Varun & Manoj S. Paul

  4. MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, University of Coimbra, 3004-517, Coimbra, Portugal

    João Pratas & Paulo J. C. Favas

  5. Department of Botany, Lucknow Christian Degree College, Lucknow, 226 018, India

    Rohan D’Souza

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Pratas, J., Favas, P.J.C., Varun, M. et al. Distribution of rare earth elements, thorium and uranium in streams and aquatic mosses of Central Portugal. Environ Earth Sci 76, 156 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6459-2

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