Mosses as indicators of atmospheric heavy metal deposition around a coal-fired power plant in Turkey

Abstract

This study was carried out from May 2003 to October 2004 in the vicinity of Catalagzi coal-fired power plant (CATES) located in Zonguldak, North-West Turkey, in order to investigate atmospheric heavy metal depositions by sampling and analysing Pleurocarp mosses as biomonitoring plants. Initially, ISC-ST (Industrial Source Complex-Short Term) dispersion models were used to determine theoretically the most polluted sites of CATES. After the modelling, sampling was performed in these theoretically determined grids. Samples were analyzed using graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) after wet digestion. In the region, the general order of heavy metal content in samples of mosses was determined to be as follows: Fe>Pb>Ni>Cr>Cu>Co>As. Background mean levels of the metals studied, except Cu, were determined and found to be higher than that of European background. The results are also presented in the form of thematic maps using the Geographic Information System (GIS).