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At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Recent trends in atmospheric deposition of trace elements in Norway as evident from the 1995 moss survey.

Atmospheric trace element deposition in Norway has been evaluated by using data from a national moss survey from 1995, comprising 53 elements in 458 samples of the ground growing moss Hylocomium splendens. The results are compared with similar surveys carried out in 1977, 1985 and 1990 in order to evaluate temporal deposition trends. Atmospheric long-range transport (LRTP) from other parts of Europe is the main source for deposition of V, Zn, As, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Hg, Tl, Pb and Bi in Norway. Between 1977 and 1990 the levels of most of the LRTP elements monitored (V, Zn, As, Cd, Sb, Pb) were reduced by more than 50%. Between 1990 and 1995, no further decrease has been observed for any of the LRTP elements, except for Pb where a further reduction is evident. The most north-easterly part of Norway is exposed to high levels of Co, Ni and Cu from emission sources from the Kola peninsula, Russia and the levels have not changed significantly since 1977. A new ferro-chrome smelter at Mo i Rana, northern Norway has resulted in a substantially enhanced deposition of Cr in the surrounding area.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1998

Atmospheric metal pollution (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in Oporto city derived from results for low-volume aerosol samplers and for the moss Sphagnum auriculatum bioindicator.

A low-volume aerosol sampler with filters and bags of Sphagnum auriculatum were exposed, in parallel, to the atmosphere of Oporto city for approx. 2 months in 1994, during a dry weather period. The levels of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in the moss (weekly samples) and in the filters (daily samples) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and the results were compared. For all the heavy metals, the rate of metal uptake by moss was significantly correlated with the metal concentration in atmospheric aerosols. The results indicated that moss bags of S. auriculatum can provide a quantitative estimation of the concentration of different heavy metals in urban atmospheres, when specific calibration by mechanic monitoring, at the same sampling point, is performed during a first stage of biomonitoring. The mean aerosol metal concentrations found in the Oporto atmosphere were similar to those observed in other urban atmospheres in different countries. The relative order of the mean metal concentrations was Fe (1.8 micrograms/m3) > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Mn > Ni (20 ng/m3). The aerosol Pb levels were monitored at different sampling points over various periods of time between 1991 and 1997. The mean Pb levels were < or = 0.5 microgram/m3 and approximately constant at each sample point up to January 1996. After that date it decreased by approx. 50%, in consequence of the reduction of the Pb concentration in leaded gasoline.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1998

Atmospheric deposition levels of chosen elements in the Czech Republic determined in the framework of the International Bryomonitoring Program 1995.

In order to determine the atmospheric loads of 13 elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, Ni, Pb, S, V, Zn), samples of Pleurozium schreberi (81.1%), Hypnum cupressiforme (11.2%) and Pseudoscleropodium purum (7.7%) bryophytes (mosses) were taken and analysed from an approx. 20 x 20-km grid extending over the entire territory (78,864 km2) of the Czech Republic (abbreviated 'the CZ' in this study). The level of the elements found in the bryophytes reflects the relative atmospheric deposition loads of the elements at the investigated sites. Five hot spots indicating relatively high deposition levels were identified in the CZ. The marginal hot spots are the following: the CZ part of the so-called Black Triangle I territory in northwestern CZ; the CZ part of the Black Triangle II territory in northeastern CZ; and the CZ part of the Sudeten mountains (Jizerské Mts and Giant Mts) and their foothills in northern CZ. Inland hot spots were found in the southwestern industrial part of central Bohemia and in the southern Moravian industrial district. The average element contents in CZ bryophytes were comparable with the respective average values obtained in Germany and Poland. However, the CZ average bryophyte values were higher and lower in comparison to the average Austrian and Slovak values, respectively. The CZ average relative atmospheric deposition loads of the elements were found to be 2-3 times higher than the respective loads in the cleanest parts of Europe (e.g. clean parts of Nordic countries). A comparison of the analytical results obtained repeatedly at 20 identical localities in the CZ showed a significant decrease in the relative deposition loads of all of the investigated elements in 1995 as compared to 1991. This decrease has been caused by the dramatic restriction of the industrial production, mainly that of the metallurgical and chemical industries, in the CZ. Desulphurisation programs and the effective trapping of flying dust particles in CZ power plants has also had a positive influence on the deposition climate in the CZ. The average values for the absolute atmospheric deposition of the investigated elements in the CZ in 1994-1995 as found from bryomonitoring are presented in this paper.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1999

Investigation of absolute metal uptake efficiency from precipitation in moss.

Bioaccumulation of metals in moss was studied by the absolute method using a specially designed 'moss bag' technique. Bulk deposition was collected in open areas along with bulk deposition collected under moss. An absolute uptake efficiency of approximately 60% was obtained, which is in good agreement with the value obtained by a relative method. The absolute uptake efficiency varied between 0 and 92%, hence uptake of metals depends very strongly on microenvironmental conditions which can even cause leaching of metals from moss. The best retained elements were Pb, Ni, Cu and V, while Cd, Cr, Fe and Zn exhibited significantly lower uptake efficiencies. Manganese in all cases showed leaching of the element from moss.

Bryopsida↗
PubMed1999

Arsenic in the Meager Creek hot springs environment, British Columbia, Canada.

Levels of arsenic in water from Meager Creek hot springs, British Columbia, Canada, were found to be naturally elevated. Biota including microbial mats, green algae, sedge, cedar, fleabane, monkey flower, moss, mushrooms and lichens, that were expected to be impacted by the water, were analyzed for total levels of arsenic and for arsenic species. The major arsenic species extracted from all samples were arsenate and arsenite, which are toxic forms of arsenic. Additionally, small amounts of arsenosugars X and XI were detected in microbial mats and green algae, implying that cyanobacteria/bacteria, and possibly green algae are capable of synthesizing arsenosugars from arsenate. Low to trace amounts of arsenosugars X and XI were detected in lichens and the fungus Tarzetta cupularis. A large fraction (on average, greater than 50%) of arsenic was not extracted by using methanol/water (1:1) and the chemical and toxicological significance of this arsenic remains unknown.

Arsenic↗
PubMed2000

The use of lichen (Cetraria nivalis) and moss (Rhacomitrium lanuginosum) as monitors for atmospheric deposition in Greenland.

Concentrations of Pb, Cd, Hg, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, As, V, Al and Fe are reported from soil, humus, moss (Rhacomitrium lanuginosum) and lichen (Cetraria nivalis) sampled at four locations in Greenland. For Al, Fe, Cr and V the levels in soil were highest followed by humus and R. lanuginosum and with the lowest levels in C. nivalis. The same was true for Pb, Cu and Ni but without as great a difference between medias. For Cd and Hg, the lowest levels were found in soil. For Zn and As, the media with highest levels differed between locality. Data were examined by a principal component analysis. Three principal components explained 87% of the total variation. The dominant elements in the first component were Fe, Al, V, Ni, Cr, Cu and Pb. This component is interpreted as a soil dust factor. The concentrations in R. lanuginosum and C. nivalis of these elements are believed to be highly influenced by soil dust. Pb concentrations in moss and lichen may also be influenced by other sources as Pb also had some correlation's with the third component. Zn and Cd and to a lesser extent. As were the dominant elements in the second component. The third component was highly dominated by Hg with a lesser influence of Pb and As, Zn, Cd and Hg concentrations in R. lanuginosum and C. nivalis are believed to be influenced by other sources than soil dust which may be long-range atmospheric transport. In general, both the within locality and the between locality variability in the values of the three components decreased in the order soil, humus, R. lanuginosum and C. nivalis. The lichen C. nivalis is looked at as an indicator with greater potential for monitoring atmospheric deposition of elements than the moss R. lanuginosum.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed2000

Deposition and disease: a moss monitoring project as an approach to ascertaining potential connections.

In the years 1995 and 1996 the atmospheric deposition of elements in the EuroRegion Neisse (ERN) was determined in a biomonitoring project using mosses. The mosses Pleurozium schreberi and Polytrichum formosum were chosen as biomonitors because of their wide distribution in the area studied. The moss samples were analysed by ICP-MS and ICP-OES for their concentrations of 37 chemical elements. The results were shown in the form of maps. The data from the moss monitoring project served as a basis for determining those elements in the deposited material that promote the occurrence of disease. This was done by correlating the figures for the various diseases with the appropriate element concentrations in the mosses. Indications were found that a connection exists between the thallium content of mosses and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease and between Ce, Fe, Ga and Ge levels in the mosses and the incidence of diseases of the respiratory system.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Homologous recombination and gene targeting in plant cells.

Gene targeting has become an indispensable tool for functional genomics in yeast and mouse; however, this tool is still missing in plants. This review discusses the gene targeting problem in plants in the context of general knowledge on recombination and gene targeting. An overview on the history of gene targeting is followed by a general introduction to genetic recombination of bacteria, yeast, and vertebrates. This abridged discussion serves as a guide to the following sections, which cover plant-specific aspects of recombination assay systems, the mechanism of recombination, plant recombination genes, the relationship of recombination to the environment, approaches to stimulate homologous recombination and gene targeting, and a description of two plant systems, the moss Physcomitrella patens and the chloroplast, that naturally have high efficiencies of gene targeting. The review concludes with a discussion of alternatives to gene targeting.

Bryopsida↗
PubMed2002

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, and trace metals in selected soil profiles and plant bioindicators in the Holy Cross Mountains, south-central Poland.

This report presents the results of PAH, phenol, and selected trace element (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, S, and Zn) determinations on detailed soil profiles and associated plant bioindicators (including lichen Hypogymnia physodes, moss Hylocomium splendens, pine Pinus sylvetris) from the three most representative habitats in the Holy Cross Mts, south-central Poland. This study is only part of a larger ongoing environmental study that includes complex sulfur isotope and element determinations in three national parks in N, central and S parts of Poland. The highest concentrations of PAHs (1887 ppb) and numerous trace elements are found in the organic horizon-O and humic horizon-A of each soil type. Different plant species and their individual tissues reveal considerable variability in the concentration of PAHs, phenols and elements examined. Most of the H. physodes thalli also reveal higher concentrations of individual hydrocarbons and some elements (including S and Zn) than their host bark. The highest concentration levels of phenols (1217 ppb) are noted in the 1-year pine needles. Most of the PAHs and elements examined seem to be of anthropogenic origin. The only exception is the distribution pattern of elements in southwestern part of the study area, which is linked to the local bedrock geochemical anomaly. The results of this study indicate that the content of PAHs, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, S and Zn in the soils and plant bioindicators examined has not changed considerably since 1998.

Altitude↗
PubMed2001

Cloning and characterization of the cDNA for a plastid sigma factor from the moss Physcomitrella patens.

We isolated a cDNA PpSig1 encoding a plastid sigma factor from the moss Physcomitrella patens. The PpSIG1 protein is composed of the conserved subdomains for recognition of -10 and -35 promoter elements, core complex binding and DNA melting. Southern blot analysis showed that the moss sig1 gene is likely a member of a small gene family. Transient expression assay using green fluorescent protein demonstrated that the N-terminal region of PpSIG1 functions as a chloroplast-targeting signal peptide. These observations suggest that multiple nuclear-encoded sigma factors regulate chloroplast gene expression in P. patens.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Chloroplast ribosomal S14 protein transcript is edited to create a translation initiation codon in the moss Physcomitrella patens.

The rps14 transcript is edited in the moss Physcomitrella patens chloroplast by a C-to-U transition, to create a translation initiation codon, AUG. The efficiency of RNA editing was low, with approximately 20% of rps14 transcripts edited. This suggests that the translation of rps14 mRNA is strictly regulated by RNA editing. This is the first report of RNA editing in P. patens and the creation of a translation initiation codon in rps14 mRNA in chloroplasts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Aquatic mosses as a monitoring tool for 137Cs contamination in streams and rivers-a field study from central southern Norway.

Mosses are frequently used as biomonitors for trace element pollution in the aquatic environment. The purpose of this study was to assess their usefulness as a tool in monitoring and in regional surveys of radioactive contamination. Specimens of the aquatic mosses, Fontinalis antipyretica and F. dalecarlica, were transplanted from non-contaminated areas to streams and rivers in the Norwegian Jotunheimen Mountains and neighbouring lowland areas that had received radioactive fallout after the Chernobyl accident. Equilibrium concentrations of 137Cs in the exposed mosses were reached after a few weeks. Two series from 20 streams in 1994 and 1996 show linear correlations between activities in water and moss samples and biomagnification ratios of 10(4) - 10(5). We conclude that mosses are better suited for monitoring purposes than water samples, because they provide values integrated over weeks while the radioactivity in surface waters can be subject to rapid variations according to hydrological events. The activity concentrations in aquatic mosses can be easily measured with good precision even when aqueous concentrations are below the limit of detection. Use of aquatic mosses also reduces the logistic problems of transporting large volumes of water, especially in areas inaccessible by road.

Bryopsida↗
PubMed2002

Assessment of current exposure levels in different population groups of the Kola Peninsula.

Activity concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr in samples of vegetation and natural food products collected in the Kola Peninsula in 1998 and 1999 indicate a very slow decrease in contamination levels during the last decade, mainly due to the physical decay of the radionuclides. The activity concentrations of 137Cs in reindeer meat decreased with a half-life of about 9 years. 137Cs in lichen, moss and fungi is significantly higher than in natural vegetation (grasses) and agricultural plants (potatoes). The activity concentrations of 137Cs in reindeer meat were two orders of magnitude higher than those in locally produced beef and pork. Consumption of reindeer meat, fish, mushrooms and berries constituted the main contribution to the internal dose from 137Cs and 90Sr for reindeer-breeders in the Lovozero area. The estimated committed doses due to 137Cs intake in this group were about 10 microSv per month in summer 1998 and 15 microSv per month in winter, 1999. There was good agreement between internal dose estimates based on intake assessment and whole body measurements. The population of Umba settlement, which is not involved in reindeer breeding, received individual committed doses due to 137Cs intake of about 0.5 microSv per month, about a factor of 20 less than the reindeer-breeders in Lovozero. In this case, the main contribution to the internal dose of the general population came from consumption the of 137Cs in mushrooms and forest berries. The contribution of 90Sr to the internal dose varied from 1% to 5% in the different population groups studied.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Radioactivity concentrations of 40K, 134Cs, 137Cs, 90Sr, 241Am, 238Pu and 239+240Pu radionuclides in Jordanian soil samples.

In November 2000, surface and core soil samples were collected from different regions of Jordan. The samples were analyzed by direct gamma spectrometry and combined radiochemical separation procedure to quantify (40)K, (134)Cs, (137)Cs, (90)Sr, (241)Am, (238)Pu and (239+240)Pu radioactivity. Concentrations (Bq.kg(-1) dry weight) have been observed to vary in the range 1.5-2.6 for (134)Cs, 2.8-11.4 for (90)Sr, and 0.13-0.48 for (241)Am, 0.016-0.062 for (238)Pu, 0.28-1.01 for (239+240)Pu and 155-543 for (40)K. The typical concentration of (137)Cs found in topsoils (0-2 cm) ranged in 7.5-576 Bq.kg(-1), dry weight. These values were greater than those observed in samples taken at greater depths (up to 32 cm). Activity ratios of (134)Cs/(137)Cs, (90)Sr/(137)Cs, (239+240)Pu/(137)Cs, (238)Pu/(137)Cs, (241)Am/(137)Cs, (239+240)Pu/(238)Pu and (241)Am /(238)Pu have mean values of 0.0049 (R=1), 0.29 (R=0.76), 0.41 (R=0.90), 0.39 (R=0.85), 0.41 (R=0.88), 7.72 (R=0.97) and 16.66 (R=0.98), respectively. The underlying concentrations were correlated and relatively higher than those reported in neighboring countries. One moss sample, as a biomonitor indicator, was measured and evaluated along with the soil samples. Its data showed higher concentrations of all measured radionuclides due to accumulations over years. The depth distribution of the fission product (137)Cs and the total deposition (Bq.m(-2)) were also studied in selected samples. Estimations of the annual effective dose equivalent due to (137)Cs-soil contamination showed values up to more than 200 microSv.

Bryopsida↗
PubMed2003

Long-term flux of Chernobyl-derived 137Cs from soil to French rivers: a study on sediment and biological indicators.

Sediment and aquatic plants were collected annually since the early 1990s in the main French rivers, upstream of nuclear power plants. These time series were used in order to assess the parameters of a compartmental model describing the Chernobyl-derived (137)Cs flux from soil to rivers. In order to reduce the dispersal of (137)Cs measured activities in sediment samples due to the granulometric heterogeneity, a correction method was set up using sediment test-fractions artificially enriched with specific diameter particles. The method was based on (137)Cs affinity for fine particles, especially clays, and thus clay and fine silt contents of each sample was analysed. Corrected sediment data showed (1) that the method efficiently reduced the variability; and (2) that (137)Cs activities in French rivers decreased with a half-life of 4 to 6 years since 1987 (after correction by radioactive decay). A similar half-life value was obtained for aquatic plants pointing out that this half-life is related to the gradual decay of the flux from soil to rivers, not to the indicator itself. Comparing our results with similar ones published by other authors, it appeared possible that this kinetic varies with the time period over which the study is conducted, the longer the period the lower is the kinetic.

Bryopsida↗
PubMed2001

Critical remarks on the use of terrestrial moss (Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi) for monitoring of airborne pollution.

Duplicate samples of the two terrestrial moss species Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi, which are widely used to monitor airborne heavy metal pollution, have been collected from eight catchments spread over a 1,500,000 km2 area in northern Europe. These were analysed for a total of 38 elements by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry and cold vapour-atomic absorption spectometry techniques. Results show that the moss species can be combined without interspecies calibration for regional mapping purposes. For the majority of elements the observed within-catchment variation is large--big composite samples over a large area should thus be collected when moss is to be used for monitoring purposes. For the majority of elements the input of dust governs moss chemistry. For a reliable 'contamination' signal over a sizeable area a major source is needed. Some elements show a dependence on climate/vegetation zone. In coastal areas the input of marine aerosols will alter the chemical signal obtained from moss samples.

Air Pollutants↗