The total sulphur content in the mosses of Polish National Parks - changes within the last 10 years

Abstract

The pollution of Polish National Parks with sulphur compounds was determined for 1975 and 1986 using the moss, Pleurozium schreberi as a bioindicator. The mean total sulphur content in the mosses of the parks ranged from 895 to 2116 µg•g^-1 dry weight in 1975 and 1117 to 2410 µg•g^-1 dry weight in 1986. Statistical differences were found in the concentration of sulphur in mosses between the particular parks, as well as among the peripheral and central park areas in 1975 while such differences were lacking in 1986. The total sulphur in mosses showed a tendency to increase over the 10-year period although there was no statistically significant difference between the concentrations of this element between the two studied periods. The level of total sulphur is significantly modified by atmospheric precipitation and does not therefore always accurately illustrate the degree of air pollution with SO₂. For this reason, mosses cannot be recognised as suitable indicators of pollution of the atmosphere with sulphur compounds.