Atmospheric Deposition of Trace Elements in Central Russia: Tula Region Case Study. Comparison of Different Moss Species for Biomonitoring

Abstract: Using the method of passive moss biomonitoring air pollution of one of the major industrial regions of Central Russia - Tula region – was studied. A high content of a number of elements of anthropogenic origin V, Fe, Zn, As, Sm, Tb, Hf, W, Th, and U in the air compared to other regions of Russia and high content of As, Cd, Cr, Fe, V, Zn and Al compared to the CIS countries and Europe were revealed. The reason for such high level of anthropogenic air pollution in the region is the activity of enterprises of metallurgical, defense, engineering and chemical industries. Instrumental epithermal neutron activation analysis (ENAA) up to 42 elemental concentrations in moss samples collected in different natural zones of the investigated area (coniferous and deciduous forests, forest-steppe and steppe). It was shown that the ability to accumulate elements from wet and dry atmospheric deposition is similar to moss Pleurozium schreberi recommended by the UNECE ICP Vegetation Programme and for some studied moss species collected in Tula region Abietinella abietina, Aulacomnium palustre, Climacium dendroides, Brachythecium rutabulum, Brachythecium salebrosum, Dicranum polysetum, Dicranum scoparium, Eurhynchium angustirete, Rhytidiadelphus subpinnatus, Orthotrichum speciosum, Oxyrrhynchium hians. These species can be recommended for use in passive moss biomonitoring of atmospheric deposition of trace elements.