IMPROVEMENTS TO AND CHECKS ON ANALYTICAL AND MONITORING METHODS

• Improvements to methods for determining elements in bioindicators, using the ICP-MS technique

Various digestion procedures and ways of recovering elements; optimisation of ICP-MS, DCR-ICP-MS and ICP-OES parameters for correctly determining As, Se, Si concentrations in plants, humus and soils (Fig. 1); determining diverse accumulation of elements in bioindicators, e.g., moss stems and moss leaves, top and bottom moss body segments, subhorizons of the forest floor, etc. (Fig. 2); tests of contamination threats in various grinding systems used for homogenisation of samples; (e.g., [1], [2]).

[1] Sucharová J., Suchara I. (2006): Determination of 36 elements in plant reference materials with different Si contents by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: Comparison of microwave digestions assisted by three types of digestion mixture.- Anal. Chim. Acta 576: 163–176.

[2] Sucharová J. (2011): Optimisation of DCR-ICP-MS for determining selenium in plants.- J. Anal. At. Spectrom. 26: (DOI: 10.1039/C1JA10095E, Paper).

• Harmonizing methods for collecting moss and forest floor humus (Oh) samples

We collect samples at study plots with low, medium and high loads of atmospheric deposition of elements; we investigate the effects of numbers of collected subsamples, amounts of material, stand factors, etc. on determined element concentration variability (e.g., [3], [4]).

[3] Suchara I. et al. (1993): Určení úrovně znečištění významných lesních oblastí ČR kovy pomocí analýzy mechů a lesního humusu.- Výr. Zpr., Projekt MŽP GA/1171/93, ms., VÚOZ Průhonice, 37 p.

[4] Suchara I. et al. (1994): Určení úrovně znečištění významných lesních oblastí ČR kovy pomocí analýzy mechů a lesního humusu.- Výr. Zpr., Projekt MŽP GA/1171/93, ms., VÚOZ Průhonice, 57 p.

• Checking methods for capturing and determining atmospheric deposition loads (bulks)

We carried out tests of element leaching from plastic collectors, and made quantitative measurements of the trapped deposit from collectors and recovery tests, collecting the atmospheric deposition at selected sites as a model (Fig. 3, Fig. 4).

• Proposal and verification of a method for collecting forest floor humus as a long-term monitor of atmospheric deposition

We determined the vertical accumulation of elements in forest floor humus; we tested a method for collecting humus matter (O_h-horizon) to minimize the possibility of taking an admixture of O_f and A_h materials; training and arrangement for large-scale determination of element distribution in humus (O_h) in the Czech Republic ([5], [6]).

[5] Suchara I., Sucharová J. (2000d: Distribution of long-term accumulated atmospheric deposition loads of metal and sulphur compounds in the Czech Republic determined through forest floor humus analyses.- Acta Průhoniciana, 69: 1–178.

[6] Suchara I., Sucharová J. (2002): Distribution of sulphur and heavy metals in forest floor humus of the Czech Republic.- Water, Air Soil Pollut. 136: 289–316.

• Tests of biomonitoring methods for revealing contamination loads in a fine map scale

We determined the distribution of 35 elements in moss (Pleurozium schreberi) and in forest floor humus in the surroundings of a secondary lead smelter ([7], [8], Fig. 5).

[7] Sucharova J., Suchara I. (2004): Distribution of 36 element deposition rates in a historic mining and smelting area as determined through fine-scale biomonitoring techniques. Part I: Relative and absolute current atmospheric deposition levels detected through moss analyses.- Water Air Soil Pollut. 153: 205–228.

[8] Suchara I., Sucharova J. (2004): Distribution of 36 element deposition rates in a historic mining and smelting area as determined through fine-scale biomonitoring techniques. Part II: Relative long-term accumulated atmospheric deposition levels.- Water Air Soil Pollut. 153: 229–252.

We determined the concentration gradients of Hg in moss (Pleurozium schreberi), humus (O_h) and oak bark along linear transects running from a chlor-alkali plant ([9], Fig. 6).

[9] Suchara I., Sucharova J. (2008): Mercury distribution around the Spolana chlor-alkali plant (central Bohemia, Czech Republic) after a catastrophic flood, as revealed by bioindicators.- Environ. Pollut. 151: 352–361.

We mapped the distribution of 37 elements in moss (Hypnum cupressiforme), humus (Oh) and soil in an area of south Moravia suffering from wind erosion ([10], Fig. 7).

[10] Sucharová J. et al. (2003): Stanovení obsahu prvků v půdě a mechu jako podklad pro upřesnění distribuce vysokých atmosférických úrovní spadu sledovaných prvků na jižní Moravě.- Výr. Zpr., Projekt MŽP VaV/640/1/00, ms., VÚKOZ Průhonice, 116 p.

We determined the Hg distribution in moss (Pleurozium schreberi) in SW Bohemia to check increased contamination in an area bioindicated in earlier large-scale biomonitoring campaigns ([11], Fig. 8).

[11] Suchara I., Sucharová J. (2000): Mezinárodní program monitorování aktuální atmosférické depozice prvků.- Výr. Zpr., Projekt 0211, MZPN0102, ms., VÚOZ Průhonice, 27 p.