Heavy metal accumulation by Mosses as affected by roadside pollutants

Mosses sampling were collected from 10 sites within the Erbil governorate in October 2015 during dry condition. The samples were air dried and crushed to fine particulates using rotary, then after the heavy metals concentration were determined by Genius XRF spectrophotometer (Skyray Instruments, USA). Location Map of selected mosses distribution were made. The results revealed that the mean values of Pb was 52.25mg/kg, Hg was 0.01mg/kg, Mn was 162.8mg/kg, Fe was 1.655%, Cu was 8.27mg/kg, Zn was 162mg/kg, Ti was 851.1mg/kg, Co was 6.28mg/kg, Ni was 57.57mg/kg, As was 6.84mg/kg, Se was 0.19mg/kg and Cr was 9.73mg/kg. The statistical results indicated that there were significant difference (P<0.05) between sites and mosses species. The data obtained in this study was compared with that of WHO standards, the results revealed that the concentration of studied heavy metals were less than of WHO standards.