title: Use of Polytrichum formosum (moss) as a passive biomonitor for heavy metal pollution (cadmium, copper, lead and zinc).
abstract: After sampling over regular intervals from 1985 to 1987 the heavy metals Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were quantitatively determined by atomic emission spectrometry/inductively coupled plasma in above-ground parts of the moss Polytrichum formosum (Hedw.). All metals present a typical summer-winter oscillation (seasonal variation), which is much greater than the "inter-stand" variation of Polytrichum formosum within the forest ecosystem under investigation. To obtain comparable results on a regional or global scale it is suggested to collect all samples of Polytrichum formosum for biomonitoring purposes in the last week of September.
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Research, University of Osnabrück, F.R.G.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Markert
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Weckert
mesh_terms: D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis*; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D005860:Germany, West; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D010944:Plants / Q000032:analysis*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc