Biomonitoring of elemental atmospheric deposition: spatial distributions in the 2015/2016 moss survey in Bulgaria

Abstract

In the most recent 2015/2016 campaign of the European-scale moss survey, Bulgaria joined for the fifth consecutive time. To investigate elemental atmospheric deposition patterns, 115 samples of moss biomonitors were collected. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to maximize the number of elements determined, including trace elements. The content of 34 elements was measured. Spatial and temporal variability trends and multivariate analysis indicated that coal mining and coal combustion for electricity production and domestic heating are major anthropogenic factors affecting the ecological situation in the country, followed by effects related to the construction of roads and related traffic pollution.