Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 22, 2026

Integrated Field Lysimetry and Porewater Sampling for Evaluation of Chemical Mobility in Soils and Established Vegetation
Published on: July 4, 2014
Exchange of mercury between atmosphere and vegetation under contaminated conditions
M Lodenius1, E Tulisalo, A Soltanpour-Gargari
1Department of Limnology and Environmental Protection, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland. martin.lodenius@helsinki.fi
Abstract:
Adsorption and desorption of mercury was studied under laboratory conditions using moss (Sphagnum girgensohnii) and Rye grass (Lolium perenne) at different temperatures. Desorption was also studied in a transplantation experiment. The adsorption was rapid and strong for both plant species at different temperatures (+10 to +60 degrees C) and exposure times (1 h, 1 month) while the evaporation was negligible. Also the leaching of adsorbed mercury was of minor importance. The results emphasise the importance of vegetation in removal of mercury from the atmosphere. They also confirm the suitability of moss and grass for biomonitoring purposes. The high retention of mercury in moss even at +60 degrees C indicates the possibility of using higher temperatures in pretreatment of samples for mercury analyses.
Related Concept Videos
The Sulfur Cycle
Bioremediation
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
Periodic Table Provides Information...
Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides
Microbes and Climate Change

