Comments on J.A. Fernandez, M.T. Boquete, A. Carballeira, J.R. Aboal (2015). A critical review of protocols for moss biomonitoring of atmospheric deposition: Sampling and sample preparation. Science of the Total Environment 517:132-150

摘要

We are impressed by this extensive review of the use of mosses as biomonitors of atmospheric pollution, primarily heavy metals. The authors did a very good job collating all this data. We applaud their efforts trying to improve the ICP Vegetation moss monitoring manual. However, we would like to take the opportunity to comment on the paper, indicating some flaws and errors, some of which were expressed by reviewers during the review process but not taken on board in the final version of the paper: 1. An important part of the paper is to assess the application of the ICP Vegetation moss monitoring manual in the studies included in the paper. However, many of these studies have different aims from the European moss monitoring survey and therefore did not necessarily aim or even indicate to follow the ICP Vegetation protocol. The aim of the ICP Vegetation moss survey is to assess the sufficiency and effectiveness of the air pollution abatement policies of the LRTAP Convention and its Protocols, particularly the Protocol on Heavy Metals. The focus of the Convention is long-range transboundary air pollution. Various studies quoted in the paper had the aim to study small scale air pollution near local pollution sources and therefore had a different aim from the European moss survey. The aim of the ICP Vegetation protocol is to be as widely applicable as possible across Europe, which might not always be the best protocol for more local or national scale application.