title: Air Pollution Study in the Republic of Moldova Using Moss Biomonitoring Technique.
abstract: Moss biomonitoring using the species Hypnum cupressiforme (Hedw.) and Pleurocarpous sp was applied to study air pollution in the Republic of Moldova. A total of 41 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Tm, Yb, Hf, Ta, W, Pb, Th, and U) were determined by instrumental epithermal neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry. Principal component analysis was used to identify and characterize different pollution sources. Geographical distribution maps were prepared to point out the regions most affected by air pollution and relate this to potential sources of contamination. Median values of the elements studied were compared with data from the European moss biomonitoring program. The cities of Chisinau and Balti were determined to experience particular environmental stress.
authors.affiliation: Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie 6, Dubna, Russian Federation, 141980. zinikovskaia@mail.ru.|Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului Str., P.O. Box MG-6, Bucharest, Magurele, Romania. zinikovskaia@mail.ru.|Institute of Chemistry of the Academy of Science of Moldova, Academiei Str.3, Chisinau, Moldova. zinikovskaia@mail.ru.
authors.forename: Inga
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0820-887X
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zinicovscaia
authors.affiliation: Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie 6, Dubna, Russian Federation, 141980.|Institute of Chemistry of the Academy of Science of Moldova, Academiei Str.3, Chisinau, Moldova.
authors.forename: Constantin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hramco
authors.affiliation: Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie 6, Dubna, Russian Federation, 141980.|Department of Structure of Matter, Earth and Atmospheric Physics and Astrophysics, Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, 405, Atomistilor str., P.O. Box MG-11, 077125, Magurele (Ilfov), Romania.
authors.forename: Octavian G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Duliu
authors.affiliation: Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie 6, Dubna, Russian Federation, 141980.
authors.forename: Konstantin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vergel
authors.affiliation: Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie 6, Dubna, Russian Federation, 141980.|National Institute for R&D in Electrical Engineering ICPE-CA, 313, SplaiulUnirii, 030138, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Otilia A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Culicov
authors.affiliation: Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie 6, Dubna, Russian Federation, 141980.
authors.forename: Marina V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Frontasyeva
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry of the Academy of Science of Moldova, Academiei Str.3, Chisinau, Moldova.
authors.forename: Gheorghe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Duca
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D019068:Bryopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D008966:Moldova; D009501:Neutron Activation Analysis; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
chemical_list: D008670:Metals
keywords: Atomic absorption spectrometry; Contamination factor; Heavy metals; Neutron activation analysis