Major and Trace Airborne Elements and Ecological Risk Assessment: Georgia Moss Survey 2019–2023

The study, carried out as part of the International Cooperative Program on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops, involved collecting 95 moss samples across the territory of Georgia during the period from 2019 to 2023. Primarily samples of <i>Hypnum cupressiforme</i> w...

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Main Authors: Omari Chaligava, Inga Zinicovscaia, Alexandra Peshkova, Nikita Yushin, Marina Frontasyeva, Konstantin Vergel, Makhabbat Nurkassimova, Liliana Cepoi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/23/3298
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author Omari Chaligava
Inga Zinicovscaia
Alexandra Peshkova
Nikita Yushin
Marina Frontasyeva
Konstantin Vergel
Makhabbat Nurkassimova
Liliana Cepoi
author_facet Omari Chaligava
Inga Zinicovscaia
Alexandra Peshkova
Nikita Yushin
Marina Frontasyeva
Konstantin Vergel
Makhabbat Nurkassimova
Liliana Cepoi
author_sort Omari Chaligava
collection DOAJ
description The study, carried out as part of the International Cooperative Program on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops, involved collecting 95 moss samples across the territory of Georgia during the period from 2019 to 2023. Primarily samples of <i>Hypnum cupressiforme</i> were selected, with supplementary samples of <i>Abietinella abietina</i>, <i>Pleurozium schreberi</i>, and <i>Hylocomium splendens</i> in cases of the former’s absence. The content of 14 elements (Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, Sr, V, and Zn) was detected using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), while the Hg content was determined using a Direct Mercury Analyzer. To identify any relationships between chemical elements and to depict their sources, multivariate statistics was applied. Principal component analysis identified three main components: PC1 (geogenic, 43.4%), PC2 (anthropogenic, 13.3%), and PC3 (local anomalies, 8.5%). The results were compared with the first moss survey conducted in Georgia in the period from 2014 to 2017, offering insights into temporal trends of air quality. Utilizing GIS, a spatial map illustrating pollution levels across Georgia, based on the Pollution Load Index, was generated. The Potential Environmental Risk Index emphasized significant risks associated with mercury and cadmium at several locations. The study highlights the utility of moss biomonitoring in assessing air pollution and identifying hotspots of contamination. The findings from this study could be beneficial for future biomonitoring research in areas with varying physical and geographical conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-0a0f90dc46b644ddbccb17435b016a1a2025-08-20T02:38:42ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472024-11-011323329810.3390/plants13233298Major and Trace Airborne Elements and Ecological Risk Assessment: Georgia Moss Survey 2019–2023Omari Chaligava0Inga Zinicovscaia1Alexandra Peshkova2Nikita Yushin3Marina Frontasyeva4Konstantin Vergel5Makhabbat Nurkassimova6Liliana Cepoi7Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 6 Joliot-Curie Str., 141980 Dubna, RussiaJoint Institute for Nuclear Research, 6 Joliot-Curie Str., 141980 Dubna, RussiaJoint Institute for Nuclear Research, 6 Joliot-Curie Str., 141980 Dubna, RussiaJoint Institute for Nuclear Research, 6 Joliot-Curie Str., 141980 Dubna, RussiaJoint Institute for Nuclear Research, 6 Joliot-Curie Str., 141980 Dubna, RussiaJoint Institute for Nuclear Research, 6 Joliot-Curie Str., 141980 Dubna, RussiaFaculty of Natural Sciences, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, 2 Satpayev Str., 010008 Astana, KazakhstanDoctoral School of Natural Sciences, Moldova State University, 75A M. Kogalniceanu Str., MD-2009 Chisinau, MoldovaThe study, carried out as part of the International Cooperative Program on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops, involved collecting 95 moss samples across the territory of Georgia during the period from 2019 to 2023. Primarily samples of <i>Hypnum cupressiforme</i> were selected, with supplementary samples of <i>Abietinella abietina</i>, <i>Pleurozium schreberi</i>, and <i>Hylocomium splendens</i> in cases of the former’s absence. The content of 14 elements (Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, Sr, V, and Zn) was detected using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), while the Hg content was determined using a Direct Mercury Analyzer. To identify any relationships between chemical elements and to depict their sources, multivariate statistics was applied. Principal component analysis identified three main components: PC1 (geogenic, 43.4%), PC2 (anthropogenic, 13.3%), and PC3 (local anomalies, 8.5%). The results were compared with the first moss survey conducted in Georgia in the period from 2014 to 2017, offering insights into temporal trends of air quality. Utilizing GIS, a spatial map illustrating pollution levels across Georgia, based on the Pollution Load Index, was generated. The Potential Environmental Risk Index emphasized significant risks associated with mercury and cadmium at several locations. The study highlights the utility of moss biomonitoring in assessing air pollution and identifying hotspots of contamination. The findings from this study could be beneficial for future biomonitoring research in areas with varying physical and geographical conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/23/3298Georgiaair pollutiontrace elementsmoss biomonitoringICP-AESDMA-80 Milestone
spellingShingle Omari Chaligava
Inga Zinicovscaia
Alexandra Peshkova
Nikita Yushin
Marina Frontasyeva
Konstantin Vergel
Makhabbat Nurkassimova
Liliana Cepoi
Major and Trace Airborne Elements and Ecological Risk Assessment: Georgia Moss Survey 2019–2023
Plants
Georgia
air pollution
trace elements
moss biomonitoring
ICP-AES
DMA-80 Milestone
title Major and Trace Airborne Elements and Ecological Risk Assessment: Georgia Moss Survey 2019–2023
title_full Major and Trace Airborne Elements and Ecological Risk Assessment: Georgia Moss Survey 2019–2023
title_fullStr Major and Trace Airborne Elements and Ecological Risk Assessment: Georgia Moss Survey 2019–2023
title_full_unstemmed Major and Trace Airborne Elements and Ecological Risk Assessment: Georgia Moss Survey 2019–2023
title_short Major and Trace Airborne Elements and Ecological Risk Assessment: Georgia Moss Survey 2019–2023
title_sort major and trace airborne elements and ecological risk assessment georgia moss survey 2019 2023
topic Georgia
air pollution
trace elements
moss biomonitoring
ICP-AES
DMA-80 Milestone
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/23/3298
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