Higher lead concentrations in the environment of former West Germany after the fall of the ‘Berlin Wall’

Biomonitoring for lead and chromium in the moss Polytrichum formosum has shown that in the years before the fall of the Berlin wall, the loading of these elements was decreasing. However in 1989/1990, localized increases in the concentration of lead in this moss in the vicinity of east-west motorways were detected. This was most likely due to the greater use of leaded petrol in eastern Germany. This observation is backed up by results from Bavaria at the Czech boarder, where localized increases in lead concentrations in the environment were found during this time period. As a result of the overall generally decreasing heavy metal loading in plants, deficiencies of essential macronutrients (Mg, Ca, K) seem to be lower also. This could be interpreted from data on Polytrichum formosum which showed an increase in these elements.