Page 4 - AWA Vol.42-No3

Importance of mosses for detection of pollutants

For more than 35 years, the effects of various air ens the growing season.
pollutants on vegetation and crops have been sys- Mosses as monitors of air pollution, including
tematically investigated under the UNECE Conven-
tion on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. microplastics
This work is carried out through the International Naturally growing mosses are used as biomon-
Cooperative Programme on Effects of Air Pollution itors of atmospheric deposition of pollutants, such
on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation), as heavy metals and nitrogen, to assess spatial pol-
coordinated by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrol- lution concentration patterns and temporal trends
ogy. Over the decades, its monitoring and research across Europe and beyond. Since 1990, mosses have
activities have substantially advanced scientific un- been sampled every five years in the framework of
derstanding of how air pollution influences plant ICP Vegetation and have provided a good indication
health, crop yields, and, consequently, food produc- of areas at risk from high pollutant deposition.
tion and food security.
The latest research, discussed at this year’s meet-
At the most recent annual meeting, held in Rome on ing, shows that mosses are powerful natural sensors
17-18 February 2026, experts from across the par-
ticipating countries convened to review and discuss for tracking airborne microplastics and other pol-
new scientific evidence on the impacts of specific lutants in urban environments. A study from Bul-
air pollutants on vegetation. garia demonstrated that living moss walls steadily
accumulate heavy metals and other pollutants over
Climate change could reshape ozone risks for months, revealing clear pollution patterns across
forests different city locations. As contamination increased,
Ground-level ozone — formed when emissions the mosses also showed biochemical stress, making
from vehicles and industry (e.g., nitrogen oxides) them reliable indicators of long-term air quality im-
react with other pollutants in sunlight — affects plant pacts.
and forest growth.
Meanwhile, a Canadian study found that trans-
New research discussed at the meeting shows that planted mosses can capture a wide range of air-
climate change will significantly reshape ozone borne microplastics—even particles too small to
risks for forest ecosystems. While ozone is a well- see—when combined with advanced analytical
known pollutant that harms plant growth and carbon techniques. The results also showed that some moss
uptake, its future impact will depend on how warm- species are more effective than others, highlighting
ing temperatures and rising CO₂ levels alter tree the need for standardized biomonitoring methods.
physiology. A global assessment using Earth system
model simulations suggests ozone risk may decline Together, these findings highlight the growing
in lower latitudes, where hotter, drier conditions value of monitoring air pollution effects on recep-
limit ozone uptake by leaves. However, in higher tors such as forests and mosses in revealing how
latitudes, boreal forests could face increased ozone pollution and climate change are reshaping ecosys-
exposure and associated risks as warming length- tems.

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2 Vol. 42 No. 3