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Instrumental neutron activation analysis in combination with the method of moss biomonitoring for the assessment of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals and other elements was applied for the first time in the Ryazan Region in Russia. Concentrations of 42 macro, micro and trace elements in 63 moss samples (Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi, as well as Hypnum cupressiforme, Sciuro-hypnum sp., Plagiothecium sp. and Ptilium sp.), collected on a relatively uniform grid in the study area, were determined. On the basis of analytical results using GIS technologies, maps of the spatial distribution of heavy metals and other toxic elements were constructed for the Ryazan region. The method of multivariate statistical analysis (factor analysis) was used to identify the main sources of pollution—large industrial facilities located in this region. The obtained results were included in the Atlas of Atmospheric Deposition of Heavy Metals, which is published by the UN Commission on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (UNECE ICP Vegetation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of air quality in urban areas is very important because pollutants affect both the environment and human health. In Perm (Russia), a moss biomonitoring method was used to assess the level of air pollution. The concentrations of 15 elements in 87 samples of moss Pleurozium schreberi in the city territory were determined using a direct mercury analyzer and an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Using factor and correlation analyses, the grouping of elements and their relationship with emission sources were established. The main sources of emissions of potentially toxic elements are the transportation (road and rail), metallurgical, and chemical industries. The level of atmospheric air pollution was assessed by calculating the environmental risk index, pollutant load index, and pollution coefficient. Based on the values of the pollution index, the level of atmospheric air pollution in Perm varies from unpolluted to highly polluted, with moderate environmental risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of soil contamination in the vicinity of integrated siderurgical plants is of outmost importance for agroecosystems and human health, and sensitive techniques should be employed for accurate assessment of chemical elements (metals, potential toxic elements, rare earths, radioelements) in soil and further evaluation of potential ecological and safety risk. In this paper a total of 45 major, minor and trace elements (Al, As, Au, Ba, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Dy, Eu, Fe, Hf, Hg, I, K, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nd, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, Ti, Tm, U, V, W, Y, Yb, Zn and Zr) were quantified in soils located around a large siderurgical works (Galati, SE Romania) using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) in combination with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). The statistical analysis results and vertical distribution patterns for three depths (0–5 cm, 5–20 cm, 20–30 cm) indicate inputs of toxic elements in the sites close to the ironmaking and steelmaking facilities and industrial wastes dumping site. For selected elements, a comparison with historical, legislated and world reported concentration values in soil was performed and depth migration, contamination and toxic risk indices were assessed. The distribution of major, rock forming elements was closer to the Upper Continental Crust (UCC), and to the Dobrogea loess, a finding confirmed by the ternary diagram of the incompatible trace elements Sc, La and Th, as well as by the La to Th rate. At the same time, the La/Th vs. Sc and Th/Sc vs. Zr/Sc bi-plots suggested a felsic origin and a weak recycling of soils' mineral components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heavy metal removal from wastewater is very important due to their persistent character in aquatic environment. The use of wooden sawdust is emerging as a potential alternative to the existing conventional technologies for the removal of metal ions from aqueous solutions. The aim of this work is to study the Cu(II) removal of from water by unconventional waste products including the wooden sawdust of poplar, cherry, spruce and hornbeam. The FT-IR spectra of the studied wooden sawdust confirmed the presence of functional groups that have potential for heavy metal binding. The highest efficiency of Cu(II) removal was observed for poplar wooden sawdust at static (86 %) and dynamic (88 %) adsorption experiments. Data obtained by neutron activation analysis revealed that ion exchange is also a mechanism of metal removal by the selected wooden sawdust.

Instrumental neutron activation analysis is used to determine a content of 47 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, I, Ba, Cs, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Au, Hg, Th, and U) in mosses (Homolothecium sp., Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw., and Brachythecium mildeanum (Schimp.) Schimp.) and lichen (Cladonia fimbriata (L.) Fr.) collected in three locations in Eastern Serbia over years 2006-2010. Concentrations of six elements (Zr, Nd, Gd, Tm, Yb, and Lu) in mosses in Serbia are measured for the first time. For other elements, the obtained concentrations fall within the ranges reported for mosses and lichens in Europe, but no declining trend in concentrations of V, Cd, Cr, Zn, Ni, Fe, and Cu, that has been described in the literature, can be inferred from our results. Factor analysis shows that terrigenous and industrial components are the highest contributing factors to the elemental composition and that the most polluted measurement site is in the vicinity of a copper mining and smelting complex. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III43007: Climate changes and their influence on the environment: impacts, adaptation and mitigation and Grant no. III43009: New Technologies in the Environmental Protection]