A scientific seminar titled "Biomonitoring of Air Pollution in Baku City and the Absheron Peninsula Using Moss Transplants" was held at the Faculty of Ecology and Soil Science of Baku State University (BSU).

At the seminar, Orkhan Hajiyev, a part-time doctoral student specializing in Environmental Chemistry, delivered a presentation on the subject. The research is supervised by Prof. Dr. Sevinj Hajiyeva, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, and Assoc. Prof. Zarifa Valiyeva, Candidate of Chemical Sciences.

The speaker provided detailed information on the role of biomonitoring in modern ecological research, the methodology applied, and the results obtained. He noted that for the first time in Azerbaijan, the "moss transplant" technique was implemented, utilizing the peat-origin species Sphagnum girgensohnii. This species was selected due to its high sorption capacity and sensitivity to atmospheric pollutants.

As part of the study, moss samples collected from an ecologically clean region of the Russian Federation were exposed at 21 different locations across Baku and the Absheron Peninsula. Over a three-month exposure period, the moss samples absorbed airborne pollutants and were later analyzed using neutron activation analysis (NAA), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and gas chromatography. The results revealed that in several areas, the concentrations of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were significantly above background levels. Using ArcGIS technology, the spatial distribution of pollution indicators was visualized, and pollution “hotspots” were presented in the form of detailed maps.

The seminar highlighted that the moss transplant technique is both cost-effective and efficient for long-term atmospheric monitoring. The study's findings have strong practical potential for assessing air pollution levels, identifying ecological risks, and supporting regional environmental policy planning.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 15: Life on Land