Abstract
The value of several biological monitors of the distribution of airborne Cr and Ni dust was studied in the vicinity of ferrochrome and stainless steel works. The following indigenous biomonitors were compared: the forest mosses Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens, the epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes, bark of Scots pine (Pinus silvestris), needle litter, earthworms (Dendrobaena octaedra) and moths (mainly Xylena vetusta). Results were compared and related to the heavy metal deposition estimated by the vertical snow sampling method. The representative sampling size at different pollution levels was investigated. In Cr it varied from 1 to 300 mg m−2 a−1. Of the biomonitors studied, the mosses showed most effective accumulation of heavy metals, their results having a clear relationship to the deposition and good replicability. The lichen gave almost as good results as the mosses. Both mosses and lichens collected heavy metals more effectively at low to moderate pollution loads than near the pollution source. The accumulation of heavy metals in bark was lower than in the mosses or lichen. The heavy metal content of earthworms indicated the degree of pollution well, but the replicability of the method was poor. The accumulation of heavy metals in moths was low.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahti, T., Hämet-Ahti, L., and Jalas, J.: 1968, Ann. Bot. Fennici 5, 169.
Barnes, D., Hamadah, M. A., and Ottaway, J. M.: 1976, Sci. Total Environ. 5, 63.
Beyer, W. N. and Cromartic, E. J.: 1987, Environ. Monit. Assess. 8, 27.
Brown, D. H.: 1984, ‘Uptake of Mineral Elements and Their Use in Pollution Monitoring’, in: Dyene, A. F. and Duchett, I.O.. (eds.), The Experimental Biology of Bryophytes, London, 229.
Burkitt, A., Lester, P., and Nickless, G.: 1972, Nature 238, 327.
Elliott, J. M.: 1977, Freshwater Biological Association Publ. 25, 1.
Ettala, M., Kukkamäki, E., and Tamminen, A.: 1986, Aqua Fennica 16, 91.
Finnish Standards Association (Suomen Standardisoimisliitto SFS): 1990a, Air quality. Bioindication. Total sulphur content in conifer needles. Sampling and presentation of results, SFS standard 5669, Helsinki.
Finnish Standards Association (Suomen Standardisoimiliitto SFS): 1990b, Air quality. Bioindication. Mapping of epiphytic lichens, SFS standard 5670, Helsinki.
Finnish Standards Association (Suomen Standardisoimiliitto SFS): 1990c, Air quality. Bioindication. Chemical analysis of mosses. Sampling, preparation and presentation of results, SFS standard 5671, Helsinki.
Finnish Standards Association (Suomen Standardisoimiliitto SFS): 1990d, Air quality. Bioindication. Fluoride of the conifer needles. Field sampling and determination of the fluoride, SFS standard 5672, Helsinki.
Folkeson, L.: 1979, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 11, 253.
Folkeson, L.: 1981, Ann. Bot. Fennici 18, 245.
Gailey, F. A. and Lloyd, O. Ll.: 1985, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 24, 1.
Gailey, F. A. Y., and Lloyd, O. Ll.: 1986a, Environm. Pollut. (Ser 13) 12, 41.
Gailey, F. A. Y. and Lloyd, O. Ll.: 1986b, Environm. Pollut. (Ser. B) 12, 61.
Gailey, F. A. Y. and Lloyd, O. Ll.: 1986c, Environm. Pollut. (Ser. B)12, 85.
Goodman, G. T. and Roberts, T. M.: 1971, Nature 231, 287.
Grodzinska, K.: 1978, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 9, 83.
Hale, M. E.: 1973, ‘Growth’, in Ahmadjan, V. and Hale, M. E. (eds.), The lichens, New York, 473.
Hopkin, S. P., Harkisty, G. N., and Martin, M-. H.: 1986, Environ. Pollut. (B. Chem. Phys.) 11, 271.
Ireland, M. P.: 1979, Environ. Pollut. 19, 201.
Jenkins, D. A. and Davies, R. I.: 1966, Nature 210, 1296.
Kauppi, M. and Mikkonen, A.: 1980, Flora 169, 255.
Knabe, W.: 1982, ‘Monitoring of Air Pollutants by Wild Life Plants and Plant Exposure: Suitable Bioindicators for Different Immissions Types’, in Stenbeing, L. and Jäger, H. J. (eds.), Monitoring of Air Pollutants by Plants 59, The Hague.
Laaksovirta, K. and Olkkonen, H.: 1977, Ann. Bot. Fennici 14, 112.
Laaksovirta, K., Olkkonen, A., and Alakuijala, P.: 1976, Environm. Pollut. 11, 247.
Little, P. and Martin, H.: 1974, Environm. Pollut. 6, 1.
Lodenius, M. and Laaksovirta, K.: 1979, Ann. Bot. Fennici 16, 7.
Martin, M. H. and Coughtrey, P. J.: 1976, Chemosphere 1, 15.
Martin, M. H. and Coughtrey, P. J.: 1982, Biological Monitoring of Heavy Metal Pollution, Land and Air, Appl. Sci. Publ., London and New York.
Morgan, J. E. and Morgan, A. J.: 1988, Environ. Pollut. 54, 123.
Makinen, A. and Pakarinen, P.: 1977, Ympäristö ja Terveys 8, 170.
Nieboer, E., Ahmed, H. M., Puckett, K. J., and Richardson, D. H. S.: 1972, Lichenologist 5, 292.
Nriagu, J. O., Pacyna, J. M., Milford, J. B., and Davidson, C. L: 1988, ‘Distribution and Characteristic Features of Chromium in the Atmosphere’, in Nriagu, J. O. and Nieboer, E. (eds.), Chromium in the Natural and Human Environments, New York.
Pakarinen, P. and Makinen, A.: 1976, Suo 27, 77.
Pakarinen, P. and Tolonen, K.: 1976, Ambio 5, 38.
Pilegaard, K.: 1979, Water, Air. and Soil Polut. 11, 77.
Pulliainen,. E., Lajunen, L. H. J., and Itämies, J.: 1986, Ann. Zool. Fennici 23, 303.
Reuther, R.: 1987, ‘The Metal Conference in Athens, 1985: A Growing Interest in Metal Speciation. A Review’, in: Landner, L. (ed.), Speciation of Metals in Water, Sediment and Soil Systems, Lect. Notes Earth Soci. 11, 3.
Roberts, R. D. and Johnson, M. D.: 1978, Environ. Pollut. 16, 293.
Rühling, Å. and Tyler, G.: 1968, Botaniska Notiser 122, 248.
Rühling, A. and Tyler, G.: 1970, Oikos 21, 92.
Rühling, A. and Tyler, G.: 1973, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 2, 445.
Rühling, Å. and Tyler, G.: 1984, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 22, 173.
Rühling, Å., Rasmussen, L., Pilegaard, K., Mäkinen, A., and Steinnes, E.: 1987, Nord 21, 1.
Stary, P. and Kubiznáková, J.: 1987, J. Appl. Entomiol. 104 (1), 1.
Steinnes, E.: 1977, Inst. for Atomenergi, Kjeller, Norway, Rep. KR-154.
Steinnes, E. and Krog, H.: 1977, Oikos 28, 160.
Symeonides, C.: 1979, J. Environ. Qual. 8, 482.
Szopa, P. S., McGinnes, E. A., and Pierce, J. O.: 1973, Wood. Sci. 6, 72.
Terhivuo, J.: 1988, Ann. Zool. Fennici 25, 229.
Tyler, G.: 1970, ‘Moss Analysis — A Method for Surveying Heavy Metal Deposition’, in Englund, H. M. and Berry, W. T. (eds.), Proc. Sec. Int. Clean Air Congress, Academic Press, New York.
Van Hook, R. I.: 1974, Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 12, 5.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kansanen, P.H., Venetvaara, J. Comparison of biological collectors of airborne heavy metals near ferrochrome and steel works. Water Air Soil Pollut 60, 337–359 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282631
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282631