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Using Moss to Assess Airborne Heavy Metal Pollution in Taizhou, China

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaoli Zhou

    (Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
    These authors contributed equally to this study.)

  • Qin Chen

    (Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
    These authors contributed equally to this study.)

  • Chang Liu

    (Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China)

  • Yanming Fang

    (Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China)

Abstract

Bryophytes act as bioindicators and bioaccumulators of metal deposition in the environment. To understand the atmospheric deposition of heavy metals (cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn)) in Taizhou, East China, samples of moss ( Haplocladium microphyllum ) were collected from 60 sites selected by a systematic sampling method during the summer of 2012, and the concentrations of these heavy metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The results suggested that the concentrations of these metals varied moderately among different sites, indicating a similar contamination level for each element throughout the monitoring region. The mean values under investigation were higher than those from neighboring cities, such as Wuxi, Xuzhou, and Nanjing, and much higher than those in Europe based on a 2010 survey. Significant ( p < 0.01) correlations were identified among some of the heavy metals, suggesting that these originated from identical sources. There was no statistically significant correlation between Hg and all the other elements. Spatial distribution maps of the elements over the sampled territory were created using Arc-GIS 9.0. The potential ecological risk index indicated that the air was heavily polluted by Cd and Hg, and that there was a considerable potential ecological risk from all the heavy metals studied.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoli Zhou & Qin Chen & Chang Liu & Yanming Fang, 2017. "Using Moss to Assess Airborne Heavy Metal Pollution in Taizhou, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:4:p:430-:d:96044
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yanbin Jiang & Xifeng Zhang & Ronggui Hu & Jinsong Zhao & Miao Fan & Muhammad Shaaban & Yupeng Wu, 2020. "Urban Atmospheric Environment Quality Assessment by Naturally Growing Bryophytes in Central China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-14, June.
    2. Inna Z. Kamanina & Wael M. Badawy & Svetlana P. Kaplina & Oleg A. Makarov & Sergey V. Mamikhin, 2023. "Assessment of Soil Potentially Toxic Metal Pollution in Kolchugino Town, Russia: Characteristics and Pollution," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, February.
    3. Yanbin Jiang & Miao Fan & Ronggui Hu & Jinsong Zhao & Yupeng Wu, 2018. "Mosses Are Better than Leaves of Vascular Plants in Monitoring Atmospheric Heavy Metal Pollution in Urban Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-13, May.
    4. Rong Hu & Yun Yan & Xiaoli Zhou & Yanan Wang & Yanming Fang, 2018. "Monitoring Heavy Metal Contents with Sphagnum Junghuhnianum Moss Bags in Relation to Traffic Volume in Wuxi, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-12, February.
    5. Maria Grazia Alaimo & Daniela Varrica, 2020. "Recognition of Trace Element Contamination Using Ficus macrophylla Leaves in Urban Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-14, January.

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