Changes in total concentrations and assessed background concentrations of heavy metals in moss in Lithuania and the Czech Republic between 1995 and 2005

Abstract

Concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn were determined in moss in lightly industralized Lithuania and in the highly industrialized Czech Republic tp separate the backgound and anthropogenic contributions to heavy metal concentrations in moss. A decreasing tendency in background contributions to the total metal concentrations was found ind Lithuania and in the Czech Republic

Keywords

• Atmospheric deposition of metals
• Lognormal distribution
• Background concentrations
• Effect of local pollution sources