Active Biomonitoring of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Aquatic Environment Using Mosses and Algae

Abstract

In this paper, we present an analysis of the pollution of surface water and air by the heavy metals: Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in the area of the smelter in Ozimek (Opolskie Voivodeship, Poland). The marine algae Palmaria palmata was exposed in the Mała Panew River, and three species of forest mosses: Pleurozium schreberi, Sphagnum fallax and Dicranum polysetum were also applied. Active biomonitoring was also carried out using P. schreberi mosses to assess air pollution, since the area and the river are influenced by the smelter’s activities. Analytes were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Student’s T-test and Mann–Whitney U test were used to assess the significance of differences in elemental concentrations between algae and mosses. Forest mosses were found to have comparable sorption properties to algae under laboratory conditions. During exposure in the river, statistical significance was found between these matrices. The results of water biomonitoring studies using forest mosses offer the possibility of their inclusion in aquatic ecosystem monitoring as an alternative to existing classical surface water biomonitors. Perspectively, attention should be paid to comparing the sorption properties of aquatic species with forest mosses in order to optimize the water biomonitoring system using mosses.