Soil, Tree Species, and Pleurozium schreberi as Tools for Monitoring Heavy Metal Pollution in Urban Parks

Marek Pająk (), Michał Gąsiorek, Marta Szostak and Wiktor Halecki
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Marek Pająk: Department of Ecological Engineering and Forest Hydrology, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425 Kraków, Poland
Michał Gąsiorek: Department of Soil Science and Agrophysics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 21, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
Marta Szostak: Department of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425 Kraków, Poland
Wiktor Halecki: Institute of Technology and Life Sciences—National Research Institute, Falenty, Al. Hrabska 3, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-15

Abstract: Urban parks are an integral component of cities; however, they are susceptible to heavy metal contamination from anthropogenic sources. Here, we investigated the moss Pleurozium schreberi and tree leaves as bioindicators for monitoring heavy metal contamination in urban parks. We determined heavy metal concentrations in P. schreberi , leaf tissues of selected tree species, and soil samples collected from various locations within a designated urban parks. The order of heavy metal accumulation was Zn > Pb > Cr > Cu > Ni > Cd > Hg in soil and Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Cd > Hg in P. schreberi . The order was Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd > Hg in linden and sycamore leaves, while birch leaves displayed a similar order but with slightly more Ni than Cr. The heavy metal concentration in the tested soils correlated positively with finer textures (clay and silt) and negatively with sand. The highest metal accumulation index (MAI) was noted in birch and P. schreberi , corresponding to the highest total heavy metal accumulation. The bioconcentration factor (BAF) was also higher in P. schreberi , indicating a greater ability to accumulate heavy metals than tree leaves, except silver birch for Zn in one of the parks. Silver birch displayed the highest phytoremediation capacity among the analysed tree species, highlighting its potential as a suitable bioindicator in heavy metal-laden urban parks. Our findings revealed significant variation in heavy metal accumulation, highlighting the potential of these bioindicators to map contamination patterns.

Keywords: urban forests; biomonitoring; pollution index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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