A moss species for magnetic biomonitoring the airborne particle pollution

DÉBORA C. MARIÉ; LUCILA MARTINO; CHAPARRO, MARCOS A. E.; CRISTIAN D'ANGELO; JUAN M. LAVORNIA; HARALD H. BÖHNEL

Boletin de la Sociedad Geologica Mexicana

Sociedad Geológica Mexicana

Lugar: CDMX; Año: 2024

1405-3322

The magnetic properties of eighty-four moss samples of Orthotrichumdiaphanum Brid collected in a medium-sized city were studied. Mosses can beconsidered passive collectors of air particle pollution produced by vehicularand industrial emissions because they absorb theirnutrients (and pollutants) from the air. Using the environmental magnetismtechniques and this moss species, we determined the most impacted areas aroundfactories and with high vehicular traffic, where mass-specific magneticsusceptibility χ reached values of 668 ×10-8 m3kg-1. These areas presented coarsermagnetic particles (0.2 – 5 mm) than avenues and street sites (0.1–1 mm). The studies of magneticmineralogy indicated that magnetite is the main magnetic carrier. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed the presence of Fe-rich spherules andparticles of different sizes and morphologies. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy studies determined the presence ofFe, Mn, Al, Cu, Si, and Ti, some of which correlated significantly withmagnetic parameters. The statistical comparison of magnetic parameters betweenmoss O. diaphanum and lichen Parmotrema pilosum revealed thatboth species are effective biological indicators for air particle monitoring.