Applicability of Atomic Emission and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for Variability Assessment of Trace and Macro-Elements Content in Moss Species from Pb-Zn Mine Environment

The aim of this study was to assess the applicability of the Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) Electro Thermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (ETAAS), and Cold Vapour Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (CVAAS) for the analysis of total content for 23 elements. Deposition and distribution of metals in the air was determined by biomonitoring a widely prevalent moss species from a lead and zinc polluted area of the “Toranica” mine, Republic of Macedonia. Moss species Hypnum cupressiforme, Homalothecium lutescens, Campthotecium lutescens and Brachythecium glareosum were used as very specific and suitable sampling biomonitor. Moss samples were digested by the application of a closed wet digestion using a microwave digestion system. The applied instrumental techniques were useful in order to determine a wider range of content for the analyzed elements; macro contents of Ca, Mg, K and P to trace contents of As, Cd, Co, Ga, and Hg. From data processing the values for Pb and Zn were used as anthropogenic markers. Higher contents of As, Cd and Cu in moss samples from this region were also determined, confirming the impact of mining activities on anthropogenic air ollution in this area. Multivariate factoring identifies four chemical associations: F1 (As-Cd-Ca-Cu-Fe-Mn-Pb-Zn), F2 (Co-Cr-Li-V), F3 (Hg-P) and F4 (K)