For the first time, moss biomonitoring covering the territory of the entire Moscow region, without including Moscow, was performed in 2020. Moss Pleurozium schreberi collected at 156 sampling sites were analyzed using neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry. A total of 34 elements were determined in moss samples. Obtained data were compared with the results of the moss surveys performed in the Vladimir and Yaroslavl regions in 2018 and with the data of moss surveys conducted in the Moscow region on a limited number of sampling sites in 2004 and 2014. The Moscow region showed to be more polluted than the Vladimir and Yaroslavl regions. In the the Moscow region, the decrease of the content of the main part of the elements over time was noted. Trace elements emission sources were identified and characterized using factor analysis. Contamination Factor, Pollution Load Index, and Ecological Risk were calculated to assess the level of the region contamination and elements effect on human health. In general, the Moscow region can be characterized as unpolluted to moderately polluted with a low ecological risk of human exposure. The cities satellites around Moscow were determined to experience particular environmental stress, even in the period of the COVID-19 restrictions.

The biomass of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis was used for metal removal from four industrial effluents with different chemical composition. The process of metal bioaccumulation (alive biomass) and biosorption (dry biomass) was studied at the native effluents pH as well as the pH 9.5. Metal uptake by S. platensis biomass was determined by means of neutron activation analysis (NNA). The obtained results show different affinity of biomass to metals presented in effluents. The results of this study have indicated that S. platensis is a very good candidate for the removal of heavy metals from complex industrial effluents.

The soft tissues of mussels are often used as the main food source, especially in coastal areas. Neutron Activation Analysis was used to measure the content of 24 macro- and microelements in the soft tissues and 18 elements in the shells of selected sets of mussels of the species Mytilus galloprovincialis. The mussels were collected in 8 polluted and 4 pristine zones, which included Namibia, the west and east coasts of South Africa, and Mozambique. According to factor analysis Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Br, I, Sb could have anthropogenic origin. The concentrations of elements such as Cr, As, Se and partly Zn at polluted stations were above the maximum permissible levels for seafood. The concentrations of Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Sb, Cs, Th, U in shells and soft tissues of the same mussels were at the close levels. Elements such as Al, Cr, Co, As (partly Zn, Se, and I) are considered to be harmful to human health at the levels of mussels consumption of 200 g/week per person and lower in such zones as Swakopmund, East London, Port Shepstone, Richards Bay, Xai-Xai according to calculated risk quotients and target hazard indices.

Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae biomass was applied for rhenium and accompanying elements (copper and molybdenum) removal from single- and multi-component systems (Re, Re-Mo, Re-Cu, and Re-Mo-Cu). Yeast biomass was characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effects of biosorption experimental parameters such as solution pH (2.0–6.0), rhenium concentration (10–100 mg/L), time of interaction (5–120 min), and temperature (20–50 °C) have been discussed in detail. Maximum removal of rhenium (75–84%) and molybdenum (85%) was attained at pH 2.0, while pH 3.0–5.0 was more favorable for copper ions removal (53–68%). The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models were used to describe the equilibrium sorption of rhenium on yeast biomass. Langmuir isotherm shows the maximum yeast adsorption capacities toward rhenium ions ranged between 7.7 and 33 mg/g. Several kinetic models (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich) were applied to define the best correlation for each metal. Biosorption of metal ions was well-fitted by Elovich and pseudo-first-order models. The negative free energy reflected the feasibility and spontaneous nature of the biosorption process. Saccharomyces cerevisiae biomass can be considered as a perspective biosorbent for metal removal.

The atmospheric depositions of heavy metals and other elements on the territory of Crimean Mountains in 2015 was assessed using the moss biomonitoring technique. The neutron activation analysis performed at the installation REGATA of the IBR-2 reactor was used for the determination of the mass fractions of 34 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Sb, I, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Ta, Th, and U). Factor analysis, concentration factors, and enrichment factors were used to reveal possible sources of elements in the mosses. The main contributor to the deposition of elements on the mosses was the weathering of rock materials. The second group of elements included Br and I. The agriculture and marine sources of emissions were found to be important factors of atmospheric Br and I, respectively. The representing maps of the distribution of heavy metals and other elements revealed high levels of elements at the South coast of Crimea and near the city of Simferopol. The comparison of the obtained data with the data of biomonitoring studies performed for other mountain regions showed higher levels of Al, V, Cr, Fe, Ni, and As than in the mosses from Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Norway, but lower than in the mosses from Georgia, Turkey, Romania, and Northern Serbia. The presented results could serve as a basis for future monitoring research.