MONITORING OF AIRBORNE METALS IN GRASS AND DEPOSITIONS

Samples of standardized grass cultures and depositions collected accor ding to BERGERHOFF revealed differing concentration gradients of Pb, S b and Cd vs. distance to heavily traveled roads. Results suggest varyi ng suitability of the methods with regard to indication of metal pollu tion. Bioaccumulation of Pb in grass (in terms of deposition plus inco rporation) was moderate compared to Pb depositions. Bioaccumulation of Sb, however, showed stronger concentration gradients compared to Sb d epositions. Positive correlations (r = 0.6 to 0.8) between deposition and grass contents of Pb and Sb were found. Pb and Sb contents in gras s, sampled at roadside locations correlated significantly, too. It is being suggested that varying bioaccumulation mechanisms of the metals are due to their predominance on different sizes of particles and to t heir individual prevalence in a number of different metal compounds. C opyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd