National Park of Sibillini Mountains: soils and mosses used for the evaluation of trace elements.

Soil depositions from airborne particles of Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn, Pt, Pd and Rh in forty-four moss and soil samples have been evaluated using mosses and soil collected in the Monti Sibillini National Park. The concentration values of almost all of the elements studied in the moss samples demonstrated an environment with little anthropization. The soils revealed low concentrations of these elements, and thus are suitable for any type of use. Using both soil and moss in these analyses has made it possible to ascertain that for the most part of the elements studied, the depositions originated from the earth’s crust. Application of the Coefficient of Variation has contributed to understanding the diversity of the depositions in the entire area: the results indicate that, in fact, they are quite uniform. The information obtained in this study confirms that mosses can be used successfully to evaluate the soil deposition from airborne particles of persistent contaminants such as heavy metals.