title: Residential heating contribution to level of air pollutants (PAHs, major, trace, and rare earth elements): a moss bag case study.
abstract: In areas with moderate to continental climates, emissions from residential heating system lead to the winter air pollution peaks. The EU legislation requires only the monitoring of airborne concentrations of particulate matter, As, Cd, Hg, Ni, and B[a]P. Transition metals and rare earth elements (REEs) have also arisen questions about their detrimental health effects. In that sense, this study examined the level of extensive set of air pollutants: 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and 41 major elements, trace elements, and REEs using Sphagnum girgensohnii moss bag technique. During the winter of 2013/2014, the moss bags were exposed across Belgrade (Serbia) to study the influence of residential heating system to the overall air quality. The study was set as an extension to our previous survey during the summer, i.e., non-heating season. Markedly higher concentrations of all PAHs, Sb, Cu, V, Ni, and Zn were observed in the exposed moss in comparison to the initial values. The patterns of the moss REE concentrations normalized to North American Shale Composite and Post-Archean Australian Shales were identical across the study area but enhanced by anthropogenic activities. The results clearly demonstrate the seasonal variations in the moss enrichment of the air pollutants. Moreover, the results point out a need for monitoring of air quality during the whole year, and also of various pollutants, not only those regulated by the EU Directive.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vuković
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080, Belgrade, Serbia. mira.anicic@ipb.ac.rs.
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aničić Urošević
authors.affiliation: The Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Miodrag
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pergal
authors.affiliation: The Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janković
authors.affiliation: Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot Curie 6, Dubna, Russian Federation, 141980.
authors.forename: Zoya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Goryainova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomašević
authors.affiliation: The Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Popović
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D044002:Bryophyta; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis; D006361:Heating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D012621:Seasons; D055771:Serbia; D044003:Sphagnopsida; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis; D028561:Transition Elements / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014131:Trace Elements; D028561:Transition Elements
keywords: Active biomonitoring; Heating season; Moss bag technique; S. girgensohnii; Seasonal pollutant variations; Urban environment