Mercury, cadmium and lead accumulation in Antarctic mosses growing along nutrient and moisture gradients |
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Authors: | R Bargagli J C Sanchez-Hernandez L Martella F Monaci |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Environmental Biology, University of Siena, Via delle Cerchia 3, 53100 Siena, Italy e-mail: Bargagli@unisi.it; fax: 0039 577 298806, IT |
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Abstract: | Accumulation of Hg, Cd and Pb by moss was studied in a coastal ice-free area (Edmonson Point, northern Victoria Land) in
relation to the water and nutrient availability and substratum characteristics. Although metal concentrations in surface soils
were among the lowest ever reported from remote areas, those of Hg and Cd in mosses were higher, being in the same range as
those usually reported in regional surveys in the northern hemisphere. By contrast, Antarctic mosses showed very low Pb concentrations,
and no impact from local human activities was detected. Marine aerosols, seabird guano and volcanic emissions appeared to
be the more probable sources of Cd and Hg. Besides atmospheric deposition, the main pathway of metals to mosses was probably
through evapo-transpiration at their surface which determines an upward migration of ions and their bioaccumulation.
Received: 8 September 1997 / Accepted: 4 January 1998 |
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