title: Quantitative assessment of metal elements using moss species as biomonitors in downwind area of lead-zinc mine.
abstract: Distributions of a total of 21 elements were monitored in significantly lead-zinc polluted area using moss species (Hypnum cupressiforme and Camptothecium lutescens) used interchangeably, covering a denser sampling network. Interspecies comparison was conducted using Box-Cox transformed values, due to their skewed distribution. The median concentrations of trace elements in the both mosses examined decreased in the following order: Fe>Mn>Zn>Pb>Cu>Ni∼Cr∼As>Co>Cd>Hg. For almost all analyzed elements, H. cupressiforme revealed higher bio-accumulative abilities. For arsenic contents was obtained ER-value in favor of C. lutescens. The ER for the element contents according to the distance from the pollution source in selected areas was significantly enriched for the anthropogenic introduced elements As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. After Box-Cox transformation of the content values, TBwas significantly different for As (4.82), Cd (3.84), Cu (2.95), Pb (4.38), and Zn (4.23). Multivariate factor analysis singled out four elemental associations: F1 (Al-Co-Cr-Fe-Li-Ni-V), F2 (Cd-Pb-Zn), F3 (Ca-Mg-Na-P) and F4 (Cu) with a total variance of 89%. Spatial distribution visualized the hazardously higher contents of "hot spots" of Cd > 1.30 mg/kg, Cu > 22 mg/kg, Pb > 130 mg/kg and Zn > 160 mg/kg. Therefore, main approach in moss biomonitoring should be based on data management of the element distribution by reducing the effect of extreme values (considering Box-Cox data transformation); the interspecies variation in sampling media does not deviate in relation to H. cupressiforme vs. C. lutescens.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Agriculture, Goce Delčev University , Štip , Macedonia.
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Balabanova
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sts. Cyril and Methodius University , Skopje , Macedonia.
authors.forename: Trajče
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stafilov
authors.affiliation: c Geological Survey of Slovenia , Ljubljana , Slovenia.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Šajn
authors.affiliation: d Research Center for Environment and Materials, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts , Skopje , Macedonia.
authors.forename: Katerina Bačeva
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Andonovska
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007220:Industrial Waste; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008906:Mining; D018843:Republic of North Macedonia; D014919:Wind; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D007854:Lead; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Box-Cox transformations; Camptothecium lutescens; Hypnum cupressiforme; heavy metals; moss biomonitoring; spatial distribution