The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Trace Element Similarity Groups in North Florida Spanish Moss

Author

Summary, in English

The elemental composition of 10 samples of Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides L. collected mainly in forested areas near Tallahassee, Florida, has been compared to the composition of the ambient aerosol particle background in the forest measured as a function of particle size. For forest samples, moss composition is similar to the composition of aerosol particles greater than about 0.5-μm diameter for the elements S, Cl, Ti, V, Fe, Ni, Zn, Br, Pb, and possibly Cu. Elements relatively enriched in the moss fall into two groups, K, Rb, Zr and Ca, Sr, Mn, based on detailed association patterns. No evidence is found for an enrichment, relative to the ambient aerosol, of pollution-derived elements Pb, Br, V, and Ni, although those elements are found at higher concentrations in moss samples from locations nearer roadways or oil-fired power plants. The moss appears to have potential value as an indicator of time average aerosol composition for particles of ≥0.5 μm, except for the enriched elements, which may have longer biological retention times.

Publishing year

1976

Language

English

Pages

1047-1050

Publication/Series

Journal of Geophysical Research

Volume

81

Issue

6

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics
  • Subatomic Physics

Keywords

  • trace elements
  • Spanish moss
  • uptake of aerosol particles

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 2156-2202