The use of lichen (Cetraria nivalis) and moss (Rhacomitrium lanuginosum) as monitors for atmospheric deposition in Greenland

Concentrations of Pb, Cd, Hg, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, As, V, Al and Fe are reported from soil, humus, moss (Rhacomitrium lanuginosum) and lichen (Cetraria niv alis) sampled at four locations in Greenland. For Al, Fe, Cr and V the leve ls in soil were highest followed by humus and R. lanuginosum and with the l owest levels in C. nivalis. The same was true for Pb, Cu and Ni but without as great a difference between medias. For Cd and Hg, the lowest levels wer e found in soil. For Zn and As, the media with highest levels differed betw een locality. Data were examined by a principal component analysis. Three p rincipal components explained 87% of the total variation. The dominant elem ents in the first component were Fe, Al, V, Ni, Cr, Cu and Pb. This compone nt is interpreted as a soil dust factor. The concentrations in R. lanuginos um and C. nivalis of these elements are believed to be highly influenced by soil dust. Pb concentrations in moss and lichen may also be influenced by other sources as Pb also had some correlation's with the third component. Z n and Cd and to a lesser extent As were the dominant elements in the second component. The third component was highly dominated by Hg with a lesser in fluence of Pb and As. Zn, Cd and Hg concentrations in R lanuginosum and C. nivalis are believed to be influenced by other sources than soil dust which may be long-range atmospheric transport. In general, both the within local ity and the between locality variability in the values of the three compone nts decreased in the order soil, humus, R. lanuginosum and C. nivalis. The lichen C. nivalis is looked at as an indicator with greater potential for m onitoring atmospheric deposition of elements than the moss R lanuginosum. ( C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.