2011-11-14
Swedish NFI and Swedish Environmental Research Institute cooperate with moss sampling for air pollution monitoring
Glittering wood-moss (Hylocomium splendens), photo Ola Borin, SLU
Since the 1970's deposition of metals - arsenic, lead, iron, cadmium, copper, chromium, mercury, nickle, vanadium and zink - have been monitered through moss samples. During the 2010 field season the Swedish National Forest Inventory field crews have gathered moss samples for analysis at the Swedish Environmental Research Institute.
Moss takes up metals from the atmosphere and precipitation and not from the substrate it grows on. Therefore it can be used to measure air pollution.
The moss samples collected during the 2010 feild season have now been analysed and the results published in a new report available on the Swedish Environmental Research Institutes homepage.
Change in cadmium from 1975 to 2010. The maps are created by interpolating results from the sample points.
Written by:
Neil Cory