The mechanisms for translocation of heavy metals from soil to epigeal mosses were investigated. The first mechanism was demonstrated for ¹³⁷Cs and involved the uplifting of the pollutant-containing dust from the soil, followed by the local secondary deposition on surfaces of epigeal mosses and epiphytic lichens. The second mechanism involved the diffusion of metal cations from the soil through water wetting the moss into the gametophyte. The mechanism was demonstrated by measuring the electric conductance of wetted gametophytes with single ends immersed in solutions of Cu and Na salts. In addition, the concentrations of Cu and Cd were compared in moss samples exposed to the natural soil and to the soil contaminated with the metals. The exposition to the contaminated soil resulted in the statistically significant increase of metal concentrations in the gametophytes.

Active biomonitoring is used to assess environmental pollution of elements such as heavy metals by indicator species such as mosses. They are used, among others, in urbanized areas where no indicator species are found. In such study areas, mosses collected from sites considered to be ecologically clean shall be exposed. In this context, it is very important to prepare the mosses properly before the exposure, so that the information received about the condition of the environment is reliable. In 2018, studies were conducted in the forested areas of southern Poland—in Opolskie Province. Pleurozium schreberi mosses were used in these studies. Atomic absorption spectrometry with flame atomiser (F-AAS) was used to determine the concentrations of Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb present. The aim was to study the influence of preparation methodology on Pleurozium schreberi moss samples prior to use in active biomonitoring studies. Four different methodologies were tested across four different sample locations (with varying levels of pollution). The results of the research were analysed and the coefficient of variation (CV) was determined. The value of the CV is influenced, among other things, by the location of the particular sample and the level of pollution by, for example heavy metals, in the moss. The research conducted proves that of the four methods used to prepare mosses for later exposure in active biomonitoring, the best method is averaging with simultaneous conditioning of mosses in demineralised water. This treatment causes the CV coefficient to fall below 10% for most of the metals determined in the moss samples. It has also been shown that maintaining moss collection methodology in accordance with ICP Vegetation standards (open/wooded area—tree canopy) also has a significant impact on the result obtained. Statistical analysis confirmed (Wilcoxon test) that the method of processing the mosses significantly influenced the results obtained. Thanks to the appropriate preparation of the mosses before exposition, they can be used in active biomonitoring of, for example, urban areas.

The concentrations of selected metals—Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb—were determined in the samples of Hypogymnia physodes lichen and Pleurozium schreberi moss collected in Polish and Czech Euroregions Praded and Glacensis. More specifically, the samples were collected in Bory Stobrawskie, Bory Niemodlińskie, and Kotlina Kłodzka (Poland) and in Jeseniki (Czech Republic). The concentration of metals in the samples was measured using the atomic absorption spectrometry (flame AAS technique and electrothermal atomization AAS technique). The results were used to calculate the comparison factor (CF) that quantifies the difference in concentration of a given bioavailable analyte × accumulated in lichens and mosses: CF = 2 (c _x,lichen − c _x,moss) (c _x,lichen + c _x,moss)⁻¹. The values of CF greater than 0.62 indicate the most probable location of heavy metals deposited in the considered area. In this work, the method was used to show a significant contribution of urban emissions to the deposition of heavy metals in the area of Bory Stobrawskie and in the vicinity of Kłodzko City.