Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07234-1 Assessment of atmospheric deposition in Central Russia using moss biomonitors, neutron activation analysis and GIS technologies Konstantin Vergel 1  · Inga Zinicovscaia 1,2  · Nikita Yushin 1  · Svetlana Gundorina 1 Received: 2 February 2020 © Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2020 Abstract Moss biomonitoring technique was applied to study peculiarities of the spatial distribution of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals on the territory of the Vladimir and Yaroslavl regions of Russia.During the summer 2018, samples of the terrestrial mosses Pleurosium shreberi were collected at the 126 sites evenly distributed over the territory of investigated regions. The combination of neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry allowed to determine more than 30 elements in moss samples. To identify the main sources of air pollution multivariate data analysis technique—factor analysis was applied, while the deposition patterns of pollutants was illustrated using GIS technology. Median values of the elements were compared with the results obtained for other regions in Russia, which participated in moss survey studies. The contamination factors, Geo-accumulation Index and pollution load index were calculated for the following elements As, Sb, Pb, V, Cd, W, Fe, Cr, Ni and Co. The dominant anthropogenic sources of air pollutants in studied regions can be attributed to industrial activity and transport. Keywords Atomic absorption spectrometry · biomonitoring · moss · neutron activation analysis · Russia Introduction At present anthropogenic activities (i.e., industry, trafc, fossil-fuel combustion) release considerable quantity of toxic elements into the atmosphere [1]. Heavy metals pre- sent only a part of the plurality of harmful compounds emit- ted in the air. The degree of metals extent and distribution in the atmosphere depend on the emissions frequency. [2]. Heavy metals introduced into ecosystem are involved in the exchange of matter between biocenosis and biotope, and by integrated into the subsequent trophic chains they often reach the human body. Thus, heavy metals introduced in the air create hazardous conditions both for the population and the environment. The danger of environment pollution with heavy metals is also determined by the fact that can be trans- ferred over long distances and be deposited many kilometers away from their emitting sources [3]. Since toxic elements having adverse efects occur commonly, their concentrations should be monitored systematically to investigate their spa- tial distribution and determine potential sources. The high cost of instrumental recording of air pollutants and the difculties of extending sampling time and space makes indirect methods, such as the analysis of suitable bio- accumulators, very appropriate for large scale monitoring [4]. Bryophytes due to their high bioaccumulation capacity after early investigations in Sweden [5], have been exten- sively used to monitor heavy metals in diferent geographical areas all over the world [6, 7]. Beside high bioaccumulation capacity application of mosses as biomonitors is determined by the lack of root system, that make the contribution from sources other than atmospheric negligible, their omnipres- ence and simplicity of sample collection [8]. Along with other European countries, Russia participate in moss survey in the framework of the International Coop- erative Programme on efects of air pollution on natural veg- etation and crops with heavy metals in Europe (UNECE ICP Vegetation). In Russia, the moss surveys were performed only in a limited number of regions in diferent surveys, that can be explained by the big territory and extreme cli- matic conditions. In some regions such as Moscow, Tver, Tula region, the biomonitoring studies were conducted for * Inga Zinicovscaia zinikovskaia@mail.ru 1 Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russian Federation 141980 2 Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Bucharest, Magurele, Romania