British scientists from the University of Aberdeen have discovered that common moss can be used to monitor air pollution levels in urban environments. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Frontiers in Geochemistry (FIG).
The team focused on moss samples taken from parks and other public spaces in the city of Aberdeen. The collected samples were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), one of the most common atmospheric pollutants. Some PAHs have strong carcinogenic properties and can also be mutagenic and interfere with healthy fetal development.
Because mosses take up water and nutrients directly from the air rather than through their root systems, they effectively collect atmospheric pollutants.
The experiment showed that, if desired, any city dweller could easily collect algae and use them to assess the presence of PAHs. This allows amateur scientists to play an important role in monitoring air quality in cities and towns around the world.
“One of the most interesting discoveries was the differences between different regions. While we expected roadside algae to contain significant levels of PAHs, the same was true in residential areas where tourism resumed after the pandemic,” said lead author Dr. Thomas Denmark.
Previous scientists I learnedIt is stated that air pollution increases the risk of developing dementia after stroke.