title: Characterization of the Etna volcanic emissions through an active biomonitoring technique (moss-bags): part 2--morphological and mineralogical features.
abstract: Volcanic emissions were studied at Mount Etna (Italy) by using moss-bags technique. Mosses were exposed around the volcano at different distances from the active vents to evaluate the impact of volcanic emissions in the atmosphere. Morphology and mineralogy of volcanic particulate intercepted by mosses were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Particles emitted during passive degassing activity from the two active vents, Bocca Nuova and North East Crater (BNC and NEC), were identified as silicates, sulfates and halide compounds. In addition to volcanic particles, we found evidences also of geogenic, anthropogenic and marine spray input. The study has shown the robustness of this active biomonitoring technique to collect particles, very useful in active volcanic areas characterized by continuous degassing and often not easily accessible to apply conventional sampling techniques.
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
mesh_terms: D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005843:Geography; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012802:Sicily; D017640:Silicates / Q000032:analysis; D044003:Sphagnopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D013431:Sulfates / Q000032:analysis; D018707:Volcanic Eruptions / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D052638:Particulate Matter; D017640:Silicates; D013431:Sulfates
keywords: Passive degassing; Plume; Sphagnum; Sulfates; Volcanic aerosols