Biomonitoring of potentially toxic elements in mosses: a case study of cities in Perm region, Russia.

Passive moss biomonitoring revealed moderate pollution levels and notable mercury ecological risks in three industrial cities of the Perm region, Russia.

• Why it matters: Understanding air pollution in small industrial cities is crucial because these areas are often overlooked despite their potential environmental and public health impacts from toxic elements.
• What they did: Researchers analyzed moss samples from Solikamsk, Berezniki, and Gubakha using spectrometry techniques, applying statistical methods to identify emission sources and assess pollution indices.
• The result: Findings showed pollution levels ranged from unpolluted to moderately polluted, with moderate ecological risks for mercury and low risks for other elements, informing targeted environmental management.