Mosses as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution in polish national parks

The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Ph, Zn, Mn, Fe) and other elements (Mg, Na, K, Ca) were determined in the samples of Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens from 12 Polish national parks. The significant differences in the concentrations of all heavy metals between particular parks were found. The lowest concentrations of these metals were recorded in the mosses from the national parks in northern Poland, the highest in southern Poland. Significant differences in the heavy metals contents of the mosses between central and peripheral park areas, between green and brown parts of mosses, as well as between moss species were also found.