Preliminary findings from a pilot moss biomonitoring study in the Patagonia region

Study aimed to assess air pollution in Patagonia using the moss Lepyrodon lagurus. The 16 selected micro-, macro-, and trace elements: Al, Cu, Cd, Co, Pb, Zn, V, Ba, Cr, Fe, Mn, S, Sr, P, Ni and Hg were determined using ICP-OES and direct mercury analyzer. Factor analysis (FA), enrichment factor (EF) and other pollution indicators were employed to group elements and associate them with possible sources and level of emission. Half of the elements were characterized by statistically significant variations in terms of the effect of sampling location on their concentration. Despite the observed concentrations: Co (0.947 mg/kg), Pb (1.37 mg/kg), V (4.29 mg/kg), Cr (1.68 mg/kg), Ni (1.94 mg/kg) were low concerning literature studies, but the area cannot be deemed pristine. Based on the research carried out different anthropogenic, traffic-related activities can be considered as one the main sources of air pollution in the Patagonia region based on values of FA and EF. The highest values of EF were: 14.3 for Co, 6.50 for Pb, and 6.00 for Ni. Future biomonitoring studies using mosses should be expanded to include other species to control the level of atmospheric aerosol pollution in Patagonia and also to identify the most sensitive biomonitor for this area.