1. ICP VEGETATION 29 th session WGE Integrated science for our changing world www.ceh.ac.uk European moss survey 2010/11  Confirmed participation: HM & N - 16 & 8 countries resp.  Monitoring manual finalised  12 heavy metals: Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, V, Zn  In addition: total N  POPs: pilot study + review

2. ICP VEGETATION 29 th session WGE Integrated science for our changing world www.ceh.ac.uk Metal1990199520002005 Cadmium0.620.640.690.65 Lead0.68 0.73 Mercury-n.s.0.220.17 HM moss & EMEP deposition Correlation coefficients (Holy et al., 2010)  Cadmium and lead: moss concentrations primarily determined by atmospheric deposition  Mercury: relationship less strong, possibly due to its specific chemistry. Norway: moss data might better reflect actual Hg deposition (e.g. importance dry deposition, role Arctic Mercury Depletion Events)

3. ICP VEGETATION 29 th session WGE Integrated science for our changing world www.ceh.ac.uk HM moss & EMEP deposition Country-specific correlations (Ilyin, EMEP/MSC-East) Factors contributing to country-specific correlations require further investigation (comparison site-specific moss data with EMEP grid mean; moss - input from local pollution sources; uncertainties moss and EMEP data; confounding factors using mosses as biomonitors)

4. ICP VEGETATION 29 th session WGE Integrated science for our changing world www.ceh.ac.uk Trends Heavy metals moss: - Highest concentrations in eastern Europe and Belgium in 2005/6 - Clear decline between 1990 and 2005 (except for chromium and mercury) Nitrogen moss: - Highest concentrations in central and eastern Europe Decline 1990 (1995*) – 2005 (%) Pb72As72Ni20 Cd52Cu 2V60 Hg12*Cr20Zn29

5. ICP VEGETATION 29 th session WGE Integrated science for our changing world www.ceh.ac.uk Recent papers Harmens et al. (2010) Mosses as biomonitors of atmospheric heavy metal deposition: spatial and temporal trends in Europe. Environmental Pollution 158: 3144-3156 Holy et al. (2010) First thorough identification of factors associated with Cd, Hg and Pb concentrations in mosses sampled in the European Surveys 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry 63: 109-124 Schroder et al. (In press) Are cadmium, lead and mercury concentrations in mosses across Europe primarily determined by atmospheric deposition of these metals? Journal of Soil and Sediments Schroder et al. (2010) First Europe-wide correlation analysis identifying factors best explaining the total nitrogen concentration in mosses. Atmospheric Environment 44: 3485-3491