Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40094738›Full record

ArticlePlants (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Assessing the Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Bryophytes in Relation to Surface Soil Contamination in the Veles Region, North Macedonia.

Trajče Stafilov, Katerina Bačeva Andonovska, Robert Šajn, Marija Jeftimova

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Trajče StafilovInstitute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ss Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Arhimedova 5, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia.ORCID 0000-0002-9017-6768
Katerina Bačeva AndonovskaResearch Center for Environment and Materials, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia.ORCID 0000-0003-1277-1040
Robert ŠajnGeological Survey of Slovenia, Dimičeva 14, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Marija JeftimovaInstitute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ss Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Arhimedova 5, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between bryophyte (mosses) diversity and environmental factors in the Veles region, North Macedonia, focusing on the spatial distribution of chemical elements in the moss and surface soil samples collected from the same locations. Eighteen moss samples were analyzed alongside surface soils. Advanced spectrometric techniques were used to identify potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and their links to anthropogenic and natural sources. While metal measurements are widely reported in the literature, the novelty of this study lies in its integrative approach, combining moss biodiversity analysis with a direct comparison of element concentrations in both moss and soil. The results show significant patterns of deposition of PTEs and highlight the long-term impact of industrial activities on biodiversity and air pollution. These findings provide valuable insights into conservation strategies and environmental management in the midst of ongoing ecological change. Five groups of elements were separated using factor analysis: G1 (Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni and V); G2 (Ba and Na); G3 (K, P and Mo), G4 (Pb and Zn), and G5 (Ag, As and Cd), of which two groups (G1 and G2) were found to be typical geochemical associations, while G4 and G5 are anthropogenic associations due to the emission of dust from contaminated soils and the slag heap of the Pb-Zn smelting plant. Group 3 represents a mixed geochemical and anthropogenic association. It was found that Pb, Zn, Cd, and As could indeed be detected in the moss in the study area, underlining its ability to detect pollutants in the air. A comparative analysis of moss and soil samples revealed significant differences in element concentrations, with most elements being more concentrated in soil. These results underline the role of moss as a bioindicator of atmospheric deposition, detecting pollution trends rather than direct soil contamination.

Indexed as

air pollutionmoss biomonitoringNorth Macedoniapotentially toxic elementssurface soilsVeles region

Identifiers

PMID40094738
PMCPMC11901712

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.