Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Mapping of measured concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mosses and correlation of their surface estimations with maps on modelled atmospheric deposition in Central Europe

Researchers conducted a German pilot moss survey to validate analytical methods for organic contaminants and develop microplastic analysis methodology, mapping the spatial distribution of persistent organic pollutants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons across Germany.

2025 Environmental Sciences Europe
Article Tier 2

Mapping of measured concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mosses and correlation of their surface estimations with maps on modelled atmospheric deposition in Central Europe

Researchers conducted a German pilot moss survey analyzing persistent organic pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and microplastics to validate new analytical methods and map the spatial distribution of atmospheric contaminants across the country.

2025 University Library Vechta
Article Tier 2

Multivariate Analysis of Factors Influencing the Concentration of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Microplastics in Mosses Sampled Across Germany in 2020

Mosses growing across Germany were analyzed as living pollution sensors, and the results show that concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in mosses are driven by a combination of large-scale atmospheric drift and proximity to local industrial or agricultural sources. Microplastics in the mosses were harder to model statistically, with only styrene-butadiene rubber and polyethylene particles showing meaningful patterns linked to nearby sources. The study reinforces the value of national moss monitoring networks for tracking atmospheric pollution, but highlights that denser sampling is needed to reliably map microplastic deposition across a country.

2026 Atmosphere
Article Tier 2

Determination of atmospherically deposited microplastics in moss samples

Researchers developed and evaluated methods for detecting atmospherically deposited microplastics in moss samples, adapting established moss biomonitoring frameworks used for heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants to enable both particle-based and mass-based microplastic analysis.

2024
Article Tier 2

Biomonitoring mit Moosen zur Erfassung atmosphärischer Deposition von Metallen, Stickstoff, persistenten organischen Verbindungen und Mikroplastik/Biomonitoring with mosses for the investigation of atmospheric deposition of metals, nitrogen, persistent organic compounds and microplastics

This report summarizes German moss biomonitoring data from 1990 to 2015, showing significant declines in heavy metal deposition but persistently high nitrogen levels, and presents early results from new methods for detecting microplastics in moss samples. Mosses accumulate airborne pollutants and serve as cost-effective tools for tracking atmospheric deposition trends.

2022 Gefahrstoffe Reinhaltung der Luft 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The temporal evolution of atmospheric microplastic deposition using sphagnum moss archives

Researchers analyzed long-term trends in atmospheric microplastic deposition at multiple sites, finding that deposition rates varied with season, land use, and meteorological conditions. The temporal data provide evidence that airborne microplastics have been accumulating in terrestrial ecosystems for decades.

2024 theses.fr (ABES)
Article Tier 2

The Use of Mosses in Biomonitoring of Air Pollution in the Terrestrial Environment: A Review

This paper is not about microplastics; it reviews the use of mosses as biomonitors for air pollution by metals and organic compounds.

2023 Ochrona Srodowiska i Zasobów Naturalnych - Environmental Protection and Natural Resources 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Accumulation of Atmospheric Metals and Nitrogen Deposition in Mosses: Temporal Development between 1990 and 2020, Comparison with Emission Data and Tree Canopy Drip Effects

Researchers analyzed 30 years of European moss monitoring data from 1990 to 2020, tracking temporal trends in atmospheric deposition of metals and nitrogen, with the 2020 campaign also including the first broad-scale measurement of microplastic accumulation in mosses.

2023 Pollutants 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of Lichens and Mosses as Biomonitors of Airborne Microplastics

Researchers compared lichens and mosses as biomonitors for airborne microplastics, finding that both organisms effectively capture and accumulate atmospheric microplastic particles, offering a simpler alternative to traditional labor-intensive sampling methods.

2023 Atmosphere 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential Role of Mosses in Evaluating Airborne Microplastic Deposition in Terrestrial Ecosystems

This review examines the potential of mosses to serve as cost-effective biomonitors for tracking airborne microplastic deposition in terrestrial ecosystems. Preliminary studies indicate that mosses accumulate higher concentrations of microplastics than lichens, likely due to their physical structure. The study outlines steps needed to develop a standardized, reliable methodology for using mosses to monitor airborne microplastic pollution across both inhabited and remote regions.

2026 Journal of Xenobiotics
Article Tier 2

Monitoring moss reveals widespread deposition of airborne microplastics across the UK – practical lessons and recommendations

Researchers evaluated the use of moss as a biomonitor for atmospheric microplastic deposition across the UK, drawing on established protocols for monitoring metals and nutrients in mosses. The study demonstrated that moss biomonitoring is practical for large-scale spatial surveys and provided recommendations for standardized collection, processing, and quantification methods.

2025
Article Tier 2

Moss as a biomonitor for the atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic microfibres

Researchers used moss (Bryophyta) as a passive biomonitor to track atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic microfibres, finding that moss samples from various locations accumulated synthetic fibres reflecting local sources of airborne plastic contamination. The study establishes moss monitoring as a practical method for assessing microplastic atmospheric deposition without active collection equipment.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of atmospherically deposited microplastics in moss: Method development and performance evaluation

German researchers developed a new method called µPEEL to extract microplastics from moss samples for atmospheric deposition monitoring, enabling both particle-count (Raman) and mass-based (thermal desorption GC-MS) analysis while avoiding harsh chemicals. The method outperformed conventional Fenton reagent digestion on environmental greenness and data quality metrics. Mosses are already used to monitor atmospheric heavy metals and nitrogen, and this work expands their utility to tracking airborne microplastic fallout.

2023 Green Analytical Chemistry 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Biomonitoring of Airborne Microplastic Deposition in Semi-Natural and Rural Sites Using the Moss Hypnum cupressiforme

Researchers demonstrated that the native moss Hypnum cupressiforme can serve as a biomonitor of atmospheric microplastic deposition, detecting synthetic fibers and fragments at semi-natural and rural sites in southern Italy and revealing that airborne microplastic contamination extends well beyond urban areas.

2023 Plants 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Moss Bags as Biomonitors of Atmospheric Microplastic Deposition in Urban Environments

Researchers tested moss bags as a biomonitoring tool for measuring atmospheric microplastic deposition across an urban gradient in southern Ontario, Canada. They found that moss bags effectively captured microplastics, with higher deposition in more urbanized areas. The study demonstrates that moss-based monitoring is a practical, low-cost method for tracking airborne microplastic pollution in cities.

2023 Biology 35 citations
Article Tier 2

A preliminary comparison of microplastic type, size, and composition in atmospheric and foliage samples in an urban scenario

Researchers compared microplastic types, sizes, and polymer compositions in atmospheric dry and wet deposition at multiple sites, assessing contributions to ecosystem contamination. The results showed that atmospheric deposition is a significant pathway for microplastic redistribution, particularly to remote areas.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Biomonitoring of airborne microplastics and microrubbers in Shiraz, Iran, using lichens and moss

Researchers conducted biomonitoring of airborne microplastics and microrubbers in an indoor environment, characterizing particle types, sizes, and polymer compositions in settled dust and air samples. The findings provide evidence of significant indoor microplastic exposure through inhalation of airborne particles.

2024 Environmental Geochemistry and Health 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic abundance in atmospheric deposition within the Metropolitan area of Hamburg, Germany

Researchers measured atmospheric microplastic deposition across urban and rural sites in the Hamburg metropolitan region over 12 weeks, finding a mean of 275 particles per m² per day with polyethylene fragments dominant, and unexpectedly higher concentrations at rural sites under conifer forest canopy than at urban locations, suggesting forest combing effects and agricultural inputs as significant deposition drivers.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 792 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Their Impact on Moss Ecosystem Functions: A Comprehensive Review

This review examines the comprehensive impacts of microplastic pollution on moss ecosystem functions, synthesising evidence on how pervasive plastic particles affect terrestrial and aquatic moss communities and the ecological services they provide.

2024
Article Tier 2

Temporal Archive of Atmospheric Microplastic Deposition Presented in Ombrotrophic Peat

Historical atmospheric microplastic deposition was reconstructed using an ombrotrophic peat archive, demonstrating that this precipitation-fed peat record captures the temporal trend of increasing atmospheric microplastic pollution over recent decades.

2021 Environmental Science & Technology Letters 50 citations
Article Tier 2

The use of bioindicators to assess airborne microplastic deposition in remote peatlands of La Réunion

Using peatland mosses as bioindicators, researchers documented atmospheric microplastic deposition at remote sites on Reunion Island, finding that even isolated tropical peatlands receive measurable airborne microplastic inputs from distant sources.

2024
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Atmospheric Pollution by Selected Elements and PAHs during 12-Month Active Biomonitoring of Terrestrial Mosses

This 12-month study used three species of moss to monitor atmospheric pollution from heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, finding that different moss species were better suited for tracking different pollutant types. Element concentrations increased steadily over time, while organic pollutants peaked around 5 to 6 months of exposure. While focused on air quality monitoring, these biomonitoring techniques could potentially be adapted to track airborne microplastic deposition in communities.

2024 Atmosphere 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Suitability of aquatic mosses for biomonitoring micro/meso plastics in freshwater ecosystems

Researchers evaluated the aquatic moss Fontinalis antipyretica as a biomonitor for meso- and micro-plastic pollution in freshwater rivers, comparing native samples to devitalized moss clones held in bags at the same sites. Results showed the moss effectively accumulated plastics from the water column, supporting its suitability as a passive biomonitoring tool for emerging plastic pollutants in river ecosystems.

2022 Environmental Sciences Europe 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Wet and Dry Deposition Flux Measurements of Atmospheric Microplastic Particles in Central Germany

Researchers measured both wet and dry atmospheric deposition of microplastic particles in central Germany across different weather conditions. The study shows that atmospheric microplastic fallout is a real pathway delivering plastic particles into terrestrial and aquatic environments.

2022 Research Square (Research Square) 6 citations