Comparative (Bio)monitoring of Airborne PAHs Using Mosses and Filters

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Ecotoxicology

Background:

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are significant air pollutants, especially in urban areas.
• Understanding PAH sources and seasonal variations is crucial for air quality management.
• Traditional monitoring methods can be complemented by biomonitoring for comprehensive assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comparatively analyze atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution over six months in Opole, Poland.
• To evaluate the efficacy of active moss biomonitoring against traditional filter-based air sampling.
• To identify PAH sources and the influence of meteorological factors on their distribution.

Main Methods:

• Dual monitoring approach: active air sampling using quartz filters and active moss biomonitoring with *Pleurozium schreberi*, *Sphagnum fallax*, and *Dicranum polysetum*.
• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for PAH concentration measurement.
• Analysis of particle size distribution, meteorological data, and diagnostic ratios for source apportionment.

Main Results:

• Filters captured transient PAH changes, with high-molecular-weight PAHs increasing in colder months due to heating. Average particle size was 0.71 μm.
• *D. polysetum* showed the highest bioaccumulation efficiency for low- and medium-molecular-weight PAHs, followed by *P. schreberi* and *S. fallax*.
• Meteorological factors like solar radiation and temperature negatively correlated with PAH levels in mosses. Primarily pyrogenic sources were identified, with some petrogenic influence.

Conclusions:

• Integrated moss biomonitoring and filter sampling offer a robust framework for assessing air quality, especially under variable meteorological conditions.
• Moss-based methodologies are valuable additions to environmental monitoring programs.
• The study provides key insights into seasonal and meteorological influences on contaminant dynamics.