Atmospheric metal pollution (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in Oporto city derived from results for low-volume aerosol samplers and for the moss Sphagnum auriculatum bioindicator.

A low-volume aerosol sampler with filters and bags of Sphagnum auriculatum were exposed, in parallel, to the atmosphere of Oporto city for approx. 2 months in 1994, during a dry weather period. The levels of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in the moss (weekly samples) and in the filters (daily samples) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and the results were compared. For all the heavy metals, the rate of metal uptake by moss was significantly correlated with the metal concentration in atmospheric aerosols. The results indicated that moss bags of S. auriculatum can provide a quantitative estimation of the concentration of different heavy metals in urban atmospheres, when specific calibration by mechanic monitoring, at the same sampling point, is performed during a first stage of biomonitoring. The mean aerosol metal concentrations found in the Oporto atmosphere were similar to those observed in other urban atmospheres in different countries. The relative order of the mean metal concentrations was Fe (1.8 micrograms/m3) > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Mn > Ni (20 ng/m3). The aerosol Pb levels were monitored at different sampling points over various periods of time between 1991 and 1997. The mean Pb levels were < or = 0.5 microgram/m3 and approximately constant at each sample point up to January 1996. After that date it decreased by approx. 50%, in consequence of the reduction of the Pb concentration in leaded gasoline.