title: Characterization of the Etna volcanic emissions through an active biomonitoring technique (moss-bags): part 1--major and trace element composition.
abstract: Active biomonitoring using moss-bags was applied to an active volcanic environment for the first time. Bioaccumulation originating from atmospheric deposition was evaluated by exposing mixtures of washed and air-dried mosses (Sphagnum species) at 24 sites on Mt. Etna volcano (Italy). Concentrations of major and a large suite of trace elements were analysed by inductively coupled mass and optical spectrometry (ICP-MS and ICP-OES) after total acid digestion. Of the 49 elements analysed those which closely reflect summit volcanic emissions were S, Tl, Bi, Se, Cd, As, Cu, B, Na, Fe, Al. Enrichment factors and cluster analysis allowed clear distinction between volcanogenic, geogenic and anthropogenic inputs that affect the local atmospheric deposition. This study demonstrates that active biomonitoring with moss-bags is a suitable and robust technique for implementing inexpensive monitoring in scarcely accessible and harsh volcanic environments, giving time-averaged quantitative results of the local exposure to volcanic emissions. This task is especially important in the study area because the summit area of Mt. Etna is visited by nearly one hundred thousand tourists each year who are exposed to potentially harmful volcanic emissions.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare (DiSTeM), Università degli Studi di Palermo, via Archirafi 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: sergio.calabrese@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione di Palermo, via La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione di Palermo, via La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellomo
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione di Palermo, via La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brusca
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EN Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (SAF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, viale delle scienze, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saiano
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare (DiSTeM), Università degli Studi di Palermo, via Archirafi 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parello
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005843:Geography; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D012802:Sicily; D044003:Sphagnopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D018707:Volcanic Eruptions / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy
keywords: Atmospheric deposition; Bioaccumulators; Enrichment factors; Environmental impact; Volcanoes