LAUSR.org creates dashboard-style pages of related content for over 1.5 million academic articles. Sign Up to like articles & get recommendations!

Using mosses as biomonitors to study trace element emissions and their distribution in six different volcanic areas

Photo from wikipedia

Abstract Volcanoes emit SO 2 , CO 2 , and H 2 S, but also trace elements gases and particles such as As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and… Click to show full abstract

Abstract Volcanoes emit SO 2 , CO 2 , and H 2 S, but also trace elements gases and particles such as As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Sb. Active moss bag biomonitoring, an easy to apply and low budget method, was used to determine trace element release from volcanic areas of different geological context and climates. Exposure height variations (0.7–1.6 m above ground) due to different availability of natural tie points did not affect the results. Accumulation was linear for exposure durations from three days to nine weeks, so values were comparable by normalization to moss exposure time. Uncovered moss bags showed higher accumulation than co-exposed covered ones because of additional dust and wet deposition while washout by rain was negligible. The selection of a specific moss significantly affected element accumulation with moss of lower shoot compactness accumulating more. For all volcanic areas, highest accumulation was found for S (1–1000 μmol·(g·d) − 1 ), followed by Fe and Mg (0.1–10 μmol·(g·d) − 1 ), Sr, Ba, Pb, Cr, Li (10 − 4 –10 − 1  μmol·(g·d) − 1 ), then Co, Mo and the volatile elements As, Sb, Se, Tl, Bi (10 − 6 –10 − 2  μmol·(g·d) − 1 ). For most elements, open conduit volcanoes (Etna, Stromboli, Nyiragongo) showed higher moss accumulation rates than more quiescent hydrothermal areas (Vulcano > Nisyros > Yellowstone National Park) and a correlation of S, Fe, and Pb from eruptive ash and lava emissions. For some volatile elements (S, As, Se), higher accumulation was observed within fumarolic fields compared to crater rims of open conduit volcanoes which is a relevant information for risk assessment of tourist exposure to volcanic gases.

Keywords: volcanic areas; accumulation; using mosses; moss; trace element

Journal Title: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research
Year Published: 2017

Link to full text (if available)


Share on Social Media:                               Sign Up to like & get
recommendations!

Related content

More Information              News              Social Media              Video              Recommended



                Click one of the above tabs to view related content.