HEAVY-METAL DEPOSITION IN POLISH NATIONAL-PARKS - CHANGES DURING 10 YEARS

Biomonitoring studies of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn) and other elements (Mg, Na, K, Ca) were done in all Polish national parks in 1976 and again in 1986. Two moss species (Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens) were used to estimate the concentrations of these elements, mainly derived from atmospheric deposition. Significant differences were found between particular parks in the concentration of heavy metals and nutrients, the lowest concentration being recorded in the mosses from the parks in northern and eastern Poland, the higher ones in the southern parks. Significant differences in the content of elements were also observed between the green and brown parts of mosses, between moss species and between years of sampling. © 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers.