Biomonitoring of metallic air pollutants in unique habitations of the Brahmaputra Valley using moss species-Atrichum angustatum: spatiotemporal deposition patterns and sources

In this paper, we have evaluated the bioaccumulation of metals by Atrichum angustatum, which is a readily available moss species in the Brahmaputra valley, India. A systematic investigation of metallic pollutants in the atmosphere was carried out using A. angustatum as a biomonitor collected from representative locations during three seasons viz. winter, pre-monsoon, and monsoon (n = 99) during the year 2018. The study was done in four unique habitations of the Brahmaputra Valley, which were further divided into three landuse areas: residential, roadside, and industrial. The highest accumulations were seen against Ca, Mg, Zn, and Fe. The calculated contaminant factors and ecological risk indices suggest that the Brahmaputra Valley is mostly contaminated by Cr, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Pb, and these metals pose a maximum ecological risk. The accumulation trend of metallic pollutants was site-specific, but most metals showed positive seasonal accumulation. A significant difference in spatial and seasonal accumulation patterns was specific to metal species. Principal component analysis (PCA) and inter-species correlations revealed that the air quality of Brahmaputra valley was greatly affected by coal burning, vehicular emission, biomass burning, road dust, and crustal dust. Finally, the study led us to the conclusion that A. angustatum can serve as a potential biomonitor for metallic pollutants.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the bioaccumulation of metals by the moss species Atrichum angustatum in the Brahmaputra valley, India. The findings suggest that the valley is mostly contaminated by Cr, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Pb, posing a maximum ecological risk. The study also indicates that A. angustatum can serve as a potential biomonitor for metallic pollutants.