Atmospheric pollution assessment with mosses in Western Rhodopes, Bulgaria

Abstract

The moss analysis technique was applied to monitor 10 heavy metals and toxic elements deposition. Our study was the first attempt to assess spatial patterns in a border mountain region (area 8732 km2) with a low population density and high proportion of protected territories. The obtained results did not correlate to the results from areas with low air pollution and could be linked to the impact of old and open mines.

Keywords

• Hypnum
• biomonitoring
• heavy metals
• Bulgaria