About the United Nations Program "Atmospheric deposition of heavy metals in Europe - estimates based on the analysis of moss biomonitors"

Abstract

One of the most important aspects in solving problems of environmental protection and human health is the control of atmospheric air quality. The most dangerous environmental pollutants are heavy metals (HM). In most European countries, the need to study the consequences of their impact on the environment and human health has led to the establishment of national and international programs for the biomonitoring of heavy metal atmospheric deposition. Data on atmospheric fallout of HMs and other toxic elements are collected based on the analysis of moss biomonitors, which serve as an analogue of aerosol filters. Under the auspices of the United Nations Commission on Transboundary Transport of Atmospheric Deposition in Europe (UNECE ICP Vegetation), an Atlas of Atmospheric Deposition of Heavy Metals is published every 5 years. International team of the sector of neutron activation analysis and applied research of the FLNP JINR contributes to these Atlases since 1995. Study of atmospheric deposition of heavy metals and other toxic elements in a number of JINR member and non-member states (Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Western Ukraine, North Macedonia, Serbia and Croatia), including some areas of Central Russia (Moscow, Tula, Tver, Ivanovo, Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Samara, Ryazan’ regions, as well as the South Urals and the North Caucasus (Republic of Ichkeria, North Ossetia) made it possible to identify and assess the areas of these pollutions in the studied territories and compare with the levels of similar pollution in Western Europe The possibility of expanding this program to countries in Asia and the Pacific is currently being discussed.