Biomonitoring Atmospheric Pollution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using Mosses

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as the main components of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs), are carcinogenic organic pollutants that occur widely in the atmospheric environment with increasing concentration. Moreover, PAHs are widespread all over the world due to their high volatility and long-range transport potential. The monitoring of atmospheric PAHs is often limited by working conditions, especially around oil field operation areas and other industrial areas. Mosses (Bryophyta), the most sensitive atmosphere pollution indicators, can be easily collected and have been used to monitor atmospheric pollutants including PAHs. Thus, characteristics and influencing factors of mosses’ absorption and accumulation of PAHs in the atmosphere were discussed, and the application of mosses in the biomonitoring of atmospheric PAHs were summarized. Biomonitoring mosses include Dicranum scoparium, Hypnum cupressiforme, Thamnobryum alopecurum, Thuidium tamariscinum, Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium scheberi, etc. Currently, the main methods for monitoring PAHs by mosses are biomonitoring with the chemical analysis method, the index of atmospheric purity (IAP) method, the ecological survey method, and the Moss-bag technique. Biomonitoring of atmospheric PAHs using mosses has a relatively wide range of prospects.