Biomonitoring of chemical element air pollution in hanoi using barbula indica moss

Nguyen Huu Quyet1, Le Hong Khiem2,3, Trinh Thi Thu My4,5, Nguyen Thi Bao My1,4,5, Marina Frontasieva4,5, Inga Zinicovscaia4,5,6, Nguyen An Son7, Tran Thien Thanh8, Le Dai Nam2, Khuat Thi Hong2, Nguyen Ngoc Mai2, Trinh Dinh Trung9, Duong Van Thang1, Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang2

1 Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology, 179 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam
2 Institute of Physics - Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 10 Dao Tan, Hanoi, Vietnam
3 Graduate University of Science and Technology - Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam
4 Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 6 Joliot-Curie, 141980 Dubna, Russia
5 Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 6 Joliot-Curie, 141980 Dubna, Russia
6 Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului Str., MG-6, Bucharest - Magurele, Romania
7 Faculty of Nuclear Engineering, Dalat University, 1 Phu Dong Thien Vuong, Dalat, Vietnam
8 VNUHCM - University of Science, 227 Nguyen Van Cu, Q.5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
9 Center for High Technology Development, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 179 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract


Atmospheric deposition of chemical elements in the Hanoi region has been investigated in this study based on moss biomonitoring. Twenty-seven Barbula indica moss samples were collected from the end of 2016 to the beginning of 2017, and the concentrations of 33 chemical elements in the samples were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The results show that Hanoi s air is highly polluted with Zn, Ba and Ta, and slightly polluted with Al, Cl, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, As, Cd, Sb, La, Ce, Sm, Gd, Tb, Yb, Hf, Th and U. A determination of the possible pollution sources has been made for the analyzed elements; namely: coal and oil combustion are the main sources of V, Ni, Co and As; vehicle exhaust and non-exhaust sources, as well as industrial emissions, are the main sources of Mn, Co, Cd and Ba; construction dust is the source of Ca, Mg and Sb; various industries are the sources of Cr and Ni; the dust from cement kilns and ash from biomass burning is responsible for K and Cl; two-stroke motor vehicles, galvanizing factories and tire wear are the sources of Zn; and Br may be emitted from burning wastes.

Keywords


contamination factor; factor analysis; Hanoi air quality; moss biomonitoring; neutron activation analysis

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