Geochemical features of sphagnum mosses and epiphytic lichens in oil and gas exploitation areas (the case of Western Siberia, Russia)

The lack of information on the atmospheric pollution by various chemical elements in the areas of oil and gas exploitation creates a necessity for the study of natural ecosystems in these territories. In the Tomsk region (Western Siberia, Russia), we have implemented a method of atmospheric motoring using biomonitors. The aim of this research is to estimate the environmental state in oil field exploitation areas of the Tomsk region using epiphytic lichens and sphagnum mosses. The plant ash was analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis for the quantitative definition of 28 chemical elements. The study showed that lichens accumulate Sc, Br, Ce, Sn, Eu, Tb, La, Lu, Th, and U in larger amounts, while the mosses accumulate Rb, Ag, Cs, Ba, and Au. Concentrations of Na, Ca, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, As, Sr, Sb, Yb, Hf, and Ta in the studied samples are approximately the same. In comparison with the mean values of chemical elements in mosses and lichens of Western Siberia and other northern regions, the studied territory has higher concentrations of Cr, Fe, Zn, Sb, Sc, Sr, Yb, Hf, and U. These features can be caused both by the influence of local sources of atmospheric pollution in oil field exploitation areas, and geochemical, geographical, and climatic peculiarities of the studied territory.