Planer-Friedrich, B.

Volcanoes emit SO2, CO2, andH2S, but also trace elements gases and particles such as As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Sb. Active moss bag biomonitoring, an easy to apply and low budget method, was used to determine trace element release from volcanic areas of different geological context and climates. Exposure height variations (0.7–1.6 m above ground) due to different availability of natural tie points did not affect the results. Accumulation was linear for exposure durations from three days to nine weeks, so values were comparable by normalization to moss exposure time. Uncovered moss bags showed higher accumulation than co-exposed covered ones because of additional dust and wet deposition while washout by rain was negligible. The selection of a specific moss significantly affected element accumulation with moss of lower shoot compactness accumulating more. For all volcanic areas, highest accumulation was found for S (1–1000 μmol·(g·d)−1), followed by Fe and Mg (0.1–10 μmol·(g·d)−1), Sr, Ba, Pb, Cr, Li (10−4–10−1 μmol·(g·d)−1), then Co, Mo and the volatile elements As, Sb, Se, Tl, Bi (10−6–10−2 μmol·(g·d)−1). Formost elements, open conduit volcanoes (Etna, Stromboli, Nyiragongo) showed highermoss accumulation rates than more quiescent hydrothermal areas (Vulcano > Nisyros > Yellowstone National Park) and a correlation of S, Fe, and Pb fromeruptive ash and lava emissions. For some volatile elements (S, As, Se), higher accumulation was observed within fumarolic fields compared to crater rims of open conduit volcanoes which is a relevant information for risk assessment of tourist exposure to volcanic gases.

Volatile metal(loid)s are known to be emitted from volcanoes worldwide.We tested the suitability of active moss monitoring for tracking volatilemetal(loid)s released fromthe fumarolic field on Vulcano Island, Italy, and differentiated fumaroles from other sources of gaseous and particulate trace elements such as sea spray and soil.Metal(loid) accumulation on the mosses per day did depend neither on the state of the exposed moss (dead or living) nor exposure time (3, 6, or 9 weeks). After collection, mosses were digested with either HNO3/H2O2 or deionized water and analyzed by ICP-MS.While for most elements both extraction methods yielded similar concentrations, higher concentrations were observed e.g. for Pb in the stronger HNO3/H2O2 extracts, indicating the presence of particles, which were not digested and removed by filtration in deionized water extracts. Due to their ubiquitous detection in comparable concentrations at all 23 moss monitoring stations all over the island, Li, Mg and Sr were attributed to sea spray origin. Iron, Co, W, V, Pb, Cr, Mo, and Ba occurred predominantly at the crater, where the soil was not covered by vegetation, and thus likely represent soil-borne particulate transport. Arsenic, Sb, S, Se, Tl, Bi, and I showed a clear concentration maximum within the fumarolic field. Concentrations gradually decreased along a transect in wind direction fromthe fumaroles, which confirms their volcanic origin. Activemossmonitoring thus proved to be an inexpensive and easy-to-apply tool for investigations of volcanic metal(loid) emissions and distributions enabling differentiation of trapped elements by their source of origin.

Emissions of volcanoes and their depositions do have an immediate impact on their surrounding environment. In the present study, emissions and depositions of the active volcanic and geothermal system Vulcano (Italy) were investigated by active moss biomonitoring (Fig. 1) in the spring of 2012. Sphagnum moss bags were exposed for periods of 3 days, 3, 6 and 9 weeks. Soil and rainwater samples as well as meteorological data were also collected. After exposure, mosses were oven-dried, grinded and each sample was extracted either in deionized water or HNO3 (with H2O2). Extraction solutions were analyzed by ICP-MS for total concentrations of Li, Mg, Sr, Ba, Cr, Mn, S, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Mo, W, Tl, As, Sb, Bi, I, and Se. Soil and rain water samples were analyzed for the same trace elements. For elements such as As and Tl, deionized water extracts showed comparable concentrations to HNO3 extracts, indicating either the absence of particles or the presence of water-soluble particles. Elements such as Pb, Ba, Se and Sr were only dissolved to about 10 % or less in deionized water, indicating a significant share of water-insoluble particle formation. Distribution patterns of emissions and depositions over the whole island of Vulcano allowed classifying all investigated elements into four groups based on their origin (Fig. 2). Lithium was found ubiquitously on the island thus likely is of either marine or geogenic origin (group a in Fig. 2). The elements Mg, Fe, Sr, Mn, Zn, Co, and W were found predominantly on the crater where bare soil was present, and were grouped as “soilborne elements” (group b). These elements are characterized by deposition close to their source of origin. Elements with higher concentrations at the fumarolic field were grouped according to their transport characteristics. The elements I, Se, Tl, Bi, Sb, As, and S were considered as true volatiles (group c) being found also further away from the fumarolic field than Pb, Cr, Mo, and Ba which were interpreted to be predominantly emitted as particles (group d). Moss-bag biomonitoring proved to be an effective tool for the study of emission and deposition processes in active volcanic areas which also allows a classification of elements accumulated on the moss by their origin and distribution patterns.