MOSS (HYLOCOMIUM SPLENDENS) USED AS BIOMONITOR OF ATMOSPHERIC TRACE-ELEMENT DEPOSITION - ESTIMATION OF UPTAKE EFFICIENCIES

Concentrations of Na, Mg, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Mo, C d, Sb, Ba, La, Pb and Bi in Hylocomium splendens were compared with bu lk deposition measurements of these elements at six background station s in Norway. Long-range transported elements (V, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, S b, Pb and Bi) showed generally significant correlations between moss a nd wet deposition, and uptake efficiencies relative to that of Pb were estimated to be: V, 40-55%; Cu, 50%; Zn, 35%; As, 10-25%; Mo, 40-60%; Cd, 50-65%; Sb, 35-55%; Bi, 30-40%. The range apparent for some eleme nts is attributed to competition with sea-salt cations in coastal area s. V, Cu, Zn and possibly Mo showed general background levels in the m oss, which may be due to essential functions of these or contribution from sources other than atmospheric deposition.