Experimental Studies on the Potential of Two Terrestrial Mosses in Monitoring Water Contaminated by Cd and Cr.

The terrestrial mosses Hypnum hamulosum and Brachythecium brotheri, which could live in water under experimental conditions, were treated with Cd2+ at 0, 20, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg·L-1, and Cr3+ at 0, 10, 20, 30, 50, and 100 mg·L-1. The Cd2+ and Cr3+ contents in H. hamulosum and B. brotheri were measured by ICP-AES after they had been submerged in the treatment solution for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The results showed: (1) Both moss species have a high ability in absorb Cd and Cr. (2) With the increase of Cd2+ (or Cr3+) concentration in the culture solution, the Cd (or Cr) contents both in H. hamulosum and B. brotheri increased linearly (3) With the extension of the treatment time, their Cd and Cr content increased logarithmically. (4) Hyphnum hamulosum and B. brotheri differ in their ability to absorb Cd2+ and Cr3+; the former has a higher ability to absorb Cd2+, but lower ability to absorb Cr3+ than the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]