Tracking soil particle deposition using bio-indication evidence and nondestructive FESEM and EDS analyses: A preliminary (pilot) study

Abstract

The present study present chemometric bioindication methodology for fast and effective monitoring in long distant distribution of top soil pollution and evidence for element soil dust deposition. Both varieties of Briophytes, Hypnum cupressiforme (Hedw.) and Homalothecium lutescens (Hedw.) has been used for improving the effective nondestructive bio-indication. Although mosses do not have a root system, influence from soil dusting cannot be disregarded, in praticular in areas with windblown mineral dust from local soil. As far as the surface bound fraction is concerned, little is known about the binding mechanisms, but the fact that different metals show rather large differences in their retention capacities, indicates that both simple cation exchange on negative surface charges and complex formation with ligands on the moss surface are involved. Laboratory analysis, using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) has been involved for determination of the dry deposition occurred within moss biomonitors. The bioindication chemometric model was improved for nondestuctive evidence effectively for biogenic elements carbon and oxygen, macroelements Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, and microelements Fe, Cu and Zn. Both moss species can be used interchangeable for dust deposition investigation.