Since 1980’s, environmental management has received an important attention and environmental health assessment has been introduced. Environmental biomonitoring is one of the methods being used in environmental pollution evaluation. Since mosses have no cuticle and a complete rooting system, they have a big ability to take up metals. For the same reasons, mosses have been referred to as one of the best environmental biomonitors to assess atmospheric dust pollution. The objectives of this research were (i) to examine the physico-chemical properties and magnetic susceptibility of moss-derived soils and (ii) to compare these properties in different parts of moss in three regions including Isfahan, Shahrekord and Tehran. In each region, composite samples (a mixture of 4 subsamples) with 4 replicates were taken. A total of 132 samples from the inner, middle and outer parts of moss as well as 48 samples from surface soils and parent materials were collected. Samples were air-dried, ground, sieved and then transferred to the lab for analysis. The magnetic susceptibility of the samples were measured using an MS2B sensor. The concentration of heavy metals including Pb, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cr, Cd and Cu was determined with an atomic absorption spectrometer following the digestion with 6N HNO 3 . To determine the texture of soils formed as the result of moss activities, the pipette approach was employed. The soil pH and salinity were measured in saturated paste with a pH meter and in soil extract (soil to water ratio of 1:2.5) using an EC meter, respectively. Soil organic matter content was measured using the wet digestion method. The results indicated that the soil magnetic susceptibility was highest in the outer part of moss in Isfahan and Shahrekord. In Tehran, The highest magnetic susceptibility was obtained for the parent rocks. The difference among the sites could be attributed to the type of parent rocks. In moss-derived soils, Pb, Zn and Cu seem to derive from anthropogenic sources, particularly from atmospheric dust. Whereas, Ni, Cr and Mn appear to mainly originate from parent materials. The concentration of Pb in outer sphere soils derived from mosses in Isfahan and Tehran is more than 125 mg/kg indicating the high ability of moss to absorb and keep Pb. The Concentration of Zn in moss-derived soils in Kolahghazi, Isfahan, reaches to 670 mg/kg which is mainly due to the influence of steel producing manufactures. Soils developed by moss have 12-16 % clay, 55-58% silt and 26-31% sand. The highest amount of EC was found in soils of the outer sphere section of moss which seems to be the result of capillary movement of salts and evaporation. The comparison of the properties of moss-derived soils with those of surface soils and dust indicated that moss-affected soils have been greatly influenced by atmospheric dust. Keywords : Moss, Environmental biomonitor, Atmospheric deposition, Heavy metals