Pilot study on using an alternative method of estimating emission of heavy metals from wood combustion

•Research on alternative method of estimating emission of heavy metals from RWC.•Mosses, cellulose and cotton wool as the potential indices for the elements emission.•Mosses are more reliable as indices of metals emissions than cellulose or cotton wool.•Correlation between the results obtained from the analysis of mosses and filters.

This thesis presents pilot studies concerning the assessment of the possibility of using organic materials of vegetative origin as indices of heavy metals emissions (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) from domestic wood-fired fireplaces. Mosses of the Pleurozium schreberi species as well as cellulose and cotton wool were used during the study as the potential indices for the elements emission. It was proved that mosses are more reliable as indices of metals emissions than cellulose or cotton wool. It was found that the quantity of Ni accumulated in the moss tissue is comparable with the concentration of this compound in the dust assessed with the reference method. A correlation between the Ni, Cr, Zn and Pb concentrations defined in the mosses and dust filter was found. It was proved that mosses as adsorbers, more clearly than in the case of cellulose and cotton, react to the change of the size of the particulates emitted.