Mosses as bioindicators of air pollution with potentially toxic elements in area with different level of anthropogenic load in Karaganda region, Kazakhstan

For the first time, moss biomonitoring was carried in Karaganda region, Kazakhstan. The studied area covered two territories with different level of anthropogenic load: the Karkaraly National Park and the Akzharyk settlement. The level of 36 major, minor and trace elements was determined in mosses collected at studies areas using neutron activation analysis and three elements, Cu, Cd and Pd were detected applying atomic absorption spectrometry. To reveal any associations of elements and to match them with possible emission sources factor analysis was applied. The contamination factor, pollution load index, and environmental risk were computed in order to evaluate the degree of pollution in the examined area and the effects of various elements on human health.