Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry 49: 521531, 2004.

C 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.

521

Monitoring of Air Pollution in Latvia Between 1990

and 2000 Using Moss
2

O. NIKODEMUS1 , G. BRUMELIS
, G. TABORS2 , L. LAPIN
A2 and S. POPE3
1

10, Rga, LV 1010, Latvia, e-mail:

Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, Alberta iela
nikodemu@lanet.lv
2
Faculty of Biology, Kronvalda bulv. 4, Rga, LV 1842, Latvia
3
2, Jurmala,

Environmental Agency of Latvia, Straumes iela

LV 2015, Latvia
(Received: 21 September 2003; accepted: 5 May 2004)
Abstract. The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, V, Zn) in feather moss were
estimated in national surveys in Latvia in 1990, 1995 and 2000. Hylocomium splendens was used as
a biomonitor in 1990 and Pleurozium schreberi in the latter two years. Maps of the distributions of
the metals in Latvia have been produced. The paper discusses the reasons underlying the distributions
and also the temporal trends during the last ten years.
Key words: heavy metals, Latvia, monitoring, moss.

1. Introduction
As in other countries world wide, moss and other biomonitors have been used
during the past 15 years in Latvia to survey distributions of pollutants. The most
important of these projects have been:
National level biomonitoring using Sphagnum moss in 1989 and 1995
(Nikodemus and Brumelis, 1994; Filipovics and Nikodemus, 1993; Nikodemus
and Brumelis, 1998).
National level bioindication using feather moss (and the soil organic layer) in
1990, 1995 and 2000, as part of a European project, (Ruhling, 1994; Ruhling
et al., 1992; Ruhling et al., 1996; Brumelis et al. 1997; Nikodemus and Brumelis
1998; Buse et al., 2003). The European mapping project allowed to compare the
heavy metal deposition in Latvia to other European countries, and to determine
long-range transport patterns of some elements (Nikodemus and Brumelis, 1994).
Local monitoring projects in cities (Rga, Ventspils, Jurmala and Olaine) and
the Liepaja and Skrunda regions (Brumelis and Nikodemus, 1993; Nikodemus
and Brumelis, 1993; Nikodemus and Brumelis, 1994; Nikodemus et al., 1993;
Brumelis et al. 1999).
The economic changes that have occurred in Latvia since 1990 a downslide
of heavy industry but boom of the transport and service sector have affected the

O. NIKODEMUS ET AL.

522

pollution levels (LEA, 2002), seen in the dynamics of concentrations in bioindicators. This paper reviews the results obtained by national-level bioindication
surveys using feather moss in Latvia, emphasizing those where data between
different years are comparable.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1.

COLLECTION OF SAMPLES

Biomonitoring of atmospheric heavy metal distributions has been conducted using

moss in three national surveys: in 1990 using Hylocomium splendens collected in
81 plots, and in 1995 and 2000 using Pleurozium schreberi in 101 plots(Figure 1).
The change to P. schreberi was made considering its wider distribution.
Compared to 1990 when moss was sometimes collected from pine, spruce of
mixed forests, in the other two years, sampling was conducted only in dominant
pine stands. Plot size was 40 m 40 m, and they were located at least 300 m
from major roads and at least 1 km from known point pollution sources. Sampling was conducted in autumn. The same plots were used for the 1995 and 2000
surveys.
The samples were dried at 40 C and cleaned from coniferous needles, leaves
and other debris. The last two segments representing two growing seasons were
removed for chemical analysis.
2.2.

CHEMICAL ANALYSIS

About 1.5 g of homogenized moss was mineralized in 15-mL concentrated HNO3 ,

heating at 95 C for 2 h Cd, Cu, Ni, Cr, Zn, Pb and V concentrations were determined
using flame/graphite AAS on a Perkin Elmer AAS Analyst 800 or Perkin Elmer
AAS 4110 Zl.

Figure 1. Location of sampling plots in 1995 and 2000. Major cities are also shown.

MONITORING AIR POLLUTION IN LATVIA

2.3.

523

DATA ANALYSIS AND MAPPING

Excel was used for data entry and statistical analysis. Mapping was conducted using
ArcView.
3. Results
The territorial distributions of the metals were mapped to determine the main
sources, and temporal trends were studied comparing the differences between the
survey years.
3.1.

CADMIUM

Compared with the other investigated heavy metals, the absolute concentrations of
Cd in moss are low: 0.102.1 g/g. The Cd concentrations are raised in western
Latvia and in separate sample plots in the central area(Figure 2a). The higher Cd
levels in 2000 around Liepaja in the west were recognized also in 1995 (Nikodemus
and Brumelis, 1998). However, the raised levels around Olaine and Rga only
appeared in 2000, which may indicate new sources.
3.2.

CHROMIUM

Due to the poor development of industry in Latvia, the Cr concentrations in

P. schreberi are low in Latvia, corresponding to the background levels in Europe
(2.0 g/g) (Buse et al., 2003). Higher levels (3.3 g/g) are found only around
Liepaja (Figure 2b), a city with a metallurgy industry.
3.3.

COPPER

The monitored Cu concentrations in 2000 are in the range of background concentrations (4.08.0 g/g) in Europe (Buse et al., 2003). Raised levels in P. schreberi are
seen near Broceni, with a cement industry, and on the Vidzeme Upland (Figure 2c).
In the area of Broceni, there may also be an impact from industries in Lithuania
(Naujoji Akmens cement industry and the Mazeikiai oil refinery).
The raised Cu levels on the Vidzeme Upland were also observed in 1995
(Nikodemus and Brumelis, 1998), indicating raised levels in deposition. As there
is no known source in the area, the raised concentrations may be due to long-range
and an increased supply of precipitation (750850 mm yearly).
3.4.

NICKEL

Raised levels of Ni deposition occur locally (Figure 2.d.). Regionally raised concentrations occur in the central and south-west part of Latvia (4.65.5 g/g), probably
due to long-range transport from the Mazeikiai oil refinery and the Naujoji Akmenes
cement industry. Compared with the 1995 survey, in 2000 the Ni levels have

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O. NIKODEMUS ET AL.

Figure 2. Heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) concentrations (g/g) in P. schreberi in
2000 in Latvia.

MONITORING AIR POLLUTION IN LATVIA

Figure 2. (Continued.)

525

O. NIKODEMUS ET AL.

526

Figure 2. (Continued.)

decreased around Rga and Daugavpils, from higher than 4 g/g to about 2.0 g/g,
probably as a result of changing the main fuel source from oil to gas at the city
thermal electrical power plants.
3.5.

LEAD

The highest Pb concentrations (up to 37 g/g) in Pleurozium schreberi occur in

the south-western part of Latvia (Figure 2e), resulting from long-range transport
from Europe and locally from the Liepaja metallurgy industry. In other parts of
Latvia the Pb concentrations in P. schreberi range 1.54.8 g/g, corresponding to
the background level in Europe (Buse et al., 2003).
3.6.

VANADIUM

The distribution of V deposition in Latvia shows local sources and long-range transport from the Mazeikiai oil refinery (Figure 2f). Relatively high concentrations are
found near the Lithuania border (1323 g/g), and around Olaine and Daugavpils
(1213 g/g) due to thermal electrical power plants.
3.7.

ZINC

The main zinc source in Latvia is the metallurgy industry in Liepaja, impacting the
south-western part of Latvia (Figure 2g.). The Zn concentrations around Liepaja are
extremely high (189 g/g). Relatively raised levels are seen near the Broceni cement
industry (84.7 g/g). In other areas of Latvia the Zn concentrations in P. schreberi
range from 2044 g/g, corresponding to the background levels in Europe.

MONITORING AIR POLLUTION IN LATVIA

527

4. Discussion
4.1.

GENERAL TRENDS IN THE TEMPORAL SPATIAL DISTRIBUTIONS

OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTANTS

The mean concentrations of most elements decreased in Latvia between 1990 and
2000(Figure 3, Table I), but the maximum concentrations decreased only for Cd
and since 1995 also for V un Ni.
These changes are also matched by estimated loads of emissions in Latvia
(LEA, 2002). Since 1990, loads from stationary sources have decreased by 60%,
and largely these changes occurred before 1992 due to collapse of the industrial
sector. This is particularly apparent for the mean concentrations of Cr, Cd, and
Zn between 1990 and 1995 (Table I). V and Ni concentrations decreased between
1995 and 2000 due to a change to cleaner fuels (LEA, 2002). The number of
vehicles during the investigated increased by two times, reaching 600,000 (LEA,
2002). However, this increasing transport intensity has not been associated with
increasing Pb concentrations, but rather the reverse, due to improved petrol and
vehicle quality.
Moss biomonitoring since 1990 has shown the highest levels of deposition of
heavy metals around the largest cities (Rga, Liepaja, Daugavpils) and also near
smaller but industrial cities (Olaine, Broceni). The closing of several industries
and improvements in the quality of fuel have led to decreased levels of several
pollutants. In 1990 and 1995, the highest V concentration in moss was found near
the Rga thermal electrical power plant (Ruhling et al., 1992; Ruhling et al., 1996),
but this source has lost its importance due to a switch to cleaner fuel-gas.
Raised Cu concentrations were observed near Olaine in 1990 and 1995 (Brumelis
and Nikodemus, 1993; Nikodemus and Brumelis, 1998), due to the pharmaceutical
industry, but not in 2000.
In 2000, the recognized local sources were Liepaja (Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr), Olaine (V,
Cd), Rga (Cd), Daugavpils (V) and Broceni (Zn, Cu). The pollutant loads around
Liepaja are also high on a European level, especially for Zn and Cd (Buse et al.,
2003), which are not only due to the local metallurgical and boiler house source,
but also due to long-range transport from Europe.
According to model estimates by the MSC-West, the contributions from Poland,
Germany and Lithuania to deposition in Latvia reached 40% (LHA, 2001). This
can explain the higher concentrations of some metals (Pb, Cu, Cd, Ni and V) in
moss in the western area. (Figure 2).
The raised levels of some metals near the Lithuanian border have remained
since 1990. The dominant winds from the south west bring deposition from the
Mazeikai oil refinery, mainly V and Ni. The Naujojes Akmenes cement factory
likely contributes to the raised Cu and Ni concentrations.
The elements characteristic for long-range transport from Europe (Pb, Cu, Cd,
Ni), are also slightly raised on the Vidzeme Upland in central Latvia, as this region
receives more precipitation.

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O. NIKODEMUS ET AL.

Figure 3. Frequency (percent of samples) distributions of heavy metals in 1990, 1995 and
2000.

MONITORING AIR POLLUTION IN LATVIA

Figure 3. Continued.

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O. NIKODEMUS ET AL.

530

Table I. Mean, minimum and maximum concentrations (g/g) of heavy

metals in H. splendens in 1990 and P. schreberi in 1995 and 2000 in Latvia
V

Cr

1990
Mean
Max.
Min.

3.6
20.2
0.80

1.5
2.71
0.61

1995
Mean
Max.
Min.

4.1
29.6
1.4

1.2
3.2
0.7

2000
Mean
Max.
Min.

2.5
23
0.6

1.1
3.3
0.58

Ni

Cd

Pb

Zn

Cu

0.27
0.42
0.14

11.7
24.8
5.9

44.2
117.0
29.0

6.26
10.3
3.92

1.4
10.6
0.5

0.2
0.5
0.1

7.2
36.1
3.0

31.7
101.2
19.1

4.0
8.3
2.7

1.3
5.5
0.5

0.23
2.1
0.1

3.6
37
1.5

35.6
189.0
20.0

5.8
11.0
3.1

1.4
2.12
0.55

The changes in heavy metal concentrations in Latvia can largely be explained

by changes in the economy, from a plan to market economy that brought collapse
to many industries. Further efforts should be made to integrate moss biomonitoring
with forest monitoring, to be able to link changes in deposition with ecological
impact.
Acknowledgements
The project was conducted in 2000 with financing from the Latvian Environmental
Agency.
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