This study analyzed the impact of road transportation on the concentration of Zn, Ni, Pb, Co, and Cd in moss (Pleurozium schreberi). The study was carried out over five years near a national road running from the north to the east (Poland) in the area of Natura 2000 sites. Samples were collected at three significantly different locations: (1) near a sharp bend, (2) near a straight section of the road in a woodless area, and (3) in a slightly wooded area. At each location, moss samples were collected from sites situated 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 m from the road edge. The highest Zn and Cd contents in the moss were recorded 6 m from the road edge near a sharp bend (where vehicles brake sharply and accelerate suddenly). At the same location, at a distance of 2 m, the highest Pb concentration was noted, and at a distance of 4 m from the road, the highest Ni concentration was noted. The Co concentration in the moss was the highest near the woodless straight section at a distance of 2 and 12 m from the road. The concentrations of Zn, Pb, Ni, Co (only at the woodless location), and Cd (at all locations) were significantly and negatively correlated with distance from the road.

• Keywords
• Pleurozium schreberi, bioindicators, potentially toxic elements, road transportation,
• MeSH
• Environmental Biomarkers * MeSH
• Transportation * MeSH
• Bryopsida chemistry   MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring methods   MeSH
• Metals, Heavy chemistry   toxicity   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Poland MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Environmental Biomarkers * MeSH
• Metals, Heavy MeSH

Contamination of soil by copper (Cu) has become a serious problem throughout the world, causing the reduction of agricultural yield and harmful effects on human health by entering the food chain. A glasshouse pot experiment was designed to evaluate the potential use of halloysite as an immobilizing agent in the aided phytostabilization of Cu-contaminated soil, using Festuca rubra L. The content of Cu in plants, i.e., total and extracted by 0.01 M CaCl₂, was determined using the method of spectrophotometry. Cu content in the tested parts of F. rubra differed significantly when halloysite was applied to the soil, as well as with increasing concentrations of Cu. The addition of halloysite significantly increased plant biomass. Cu accumulated in the roots, thereby reducing its toxicity to the aerial parts of the plant. The obtained values of bioconcentration and translocation factors observed for halloysite treatment indicate the effectiveness of using F. rubra in phytostabilization techniques.

• Keywords
• aided phytostabilization, clay minerals, metal contaminated soil, red fescue, risk minimization,
• MeSH
• Biodegradation, Environmental MeSH
• Biomass MeSH
• Festuca growth & development   metabolism   MeSH
• Plant Roots growth & development   metabolism   MeSH
• Soil Pollutants chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Copper chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Aluminum Silicates chemistry   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Soil Pollutants MeSH
• Copper MeSH
• Aluminum Silicates MeSH