PAH concentrations in the moss species Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) B.S.G. and Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt. from the Kielce area (south-central Poland)

Forty eight samples of mosses Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi from the Kielce area (south-central Poland) were analyzed for seventeen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The PAH concentrations varied from 558.00 μg/kg (ppb) to 4457.00 μg/kg in H. splendens and from 643.00 to 3086.00 μg/kg in P. schreberi. In both moss species phenanthrene (75.00–732.00 μg/kg), fluoranthene (101.00–577.00 μg/kg) and pyrene (68.00–568.00 μg/kg) predominated, but H. splendens accumulated more PAHs than P. schreberi at eighteen different sites. The highest PAH concentrations were noted at sites located close to the housing estates (sites 1–10) and potential emission sources (e.g. heat and power generating plant “Kielce S.A.”) (sites 19–21). The moss samples displayed the diverse ring sequence, but the most prevalent was four>five>three>six. The diagnostic ratios (three+four ring/total PAHs, Flu/Py, Phen/Ant, Phen/Phen+Ant, Flu/Flu+Py, IndPy/IndPy+BghiPe and BaA/BaA+Chr) indicated that coal and petroleum combustion was a principal PAH source in the study area.

► We determined concentrations and spatial distribution of PAHs in the moss species.
► We pinpointed localization of potential PAH pollution sources in the Kielce area.
► We determined PAH profiles, ring sequence patterns and diagnostic ratios.
► The principal source of PAHs was linked to coal combustion and vehicle traffic.