Preliminary study of the use of terrestrial moss (Pleurozium schreberi) for passive biomonitoring related to Hg deposition

This study aimed to assess the possibility of using mosses as part of passive biomonitoring of mercury deposition from anthropogenic sources in the municipality of Murów (Opole Voivodeship). Hg concentrations were analyzed using the AMA254 mercury analyzer in the Pleurozium schreberi species mosses. The results obtained made it possible to identify potential sources of contamination and to indicate the direction of environmental spread of mercury in the study area. The study confirmed that the mosses P. schreberi accumulate mercury from atmospheric aerosol and its concentration is proportional to its concentration in the air. The direction of winds is crucial in the spread of pollution from anthropogenic sources. In the study area, mercury polluting sources of atmospheric aerosol such as glass processing plants, sawmills and traffic were identified.