Air pollution monitoring with mosses in Western Rhodopes, Bulgaria

For the first time a complex study of the bioaccumulation of 22 macro- and microelements, as well as of 18 rare earth and radioactive elements in mosses was applied in the territory of Western Rhodopes. The research is a part of the international program (ICP Vegetation, UNECE) that has been carried out in most of the European countries since 1987. Certain local emitters like old and open mines, serpentines, as well as cross-border transmission were identified. In addition, highest concentrations of radioactive elements were registered in the area of an old uranium mine and most elevated sites, probably due to increased wet deposition. Both heavy metals and toxic elements, as well as radioactive elements maxima were lower than measured highest levels for Bulgaria and Europe. In such studies, inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP-OES, ICP-MS) could be recommended.