Measuring atmospheric pollution using mossbased measurements in Western

Measuring atmospheric pollution using mossbased measurements in Western WA, USA Amanda Bidwell, Sean Callahan, Patrick Tobin, Thomas De. Luca School of Environmental & Forest Sciences University of Washington

GROWING PAINS, LEADING TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION

SOURCES OF POLLUTION Exhaust emissions Exhaust: NOx, PM 10, PM 2. 5 Diesel Fuel/Soot: Ni, Sr Brake & Tire Attrition Brakes: Fe, Ti, Cu, Sr, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd Tires: Zn, Fe, Ti, Cr, Cu, Sr, Pb Lubricant Degradation Cd, Fe, Pb, Ti EPA’s Top 30 Urban Toxin Pollutants: Cd Cr Pb Mn Ni

Do transportation based pollutants bioaccumulate in canopy and forest floor moss tissue?

WHY MOSS? ? • Nonvascular • Lack protective epidermis • High cation exchange capacity: absorb organic compounds & inorganic ions deposited on surface • Provide snapshot of wet & dry deposition (1 -3 year exposure period) • History of use as bioindicator in Europe • Inexpensive analysis costs

STUDY DESIGN: Intensive canopy sampling w/ I. stoloniferum Extensive ground floor sampling w/ K. praelonga 13 Urban 6 Peninsula 5 Su bur ban

Trend of elevated metal levels in urban sites, followed by suburban and peninsula sites x 2. 32 x 1. 8 x 5. 35 *exception of Strontium Significant difference in metal concentrations across gradient = x 3. 36 x 13. 3 x 2. 53 Environmentally distinct regions

Highest Average Levels: * Nickel: 6. 9 ppm * Lead: 17. 4 ppm Strontium: 159. 6 ppm Matthews Beach Ravenna Park * Cadmium: 0. 62 ppm * Chromium: 4. 8 ppm Interlaken Park Iron: 1, 498 ppm Titanium: 73. 5 ppm Colman Park Zinc: 113 ppm Copper: 13. 46 ppm Longfellow Creek Greenspace

TAKEAWAYS • Moss can be used as a comparative index of metal deposition and as a screening tool to assess areas of metal pollution • Metal deposition in and around Seattle appears to be primarily derived from transportation sources • Possibility to expand sampling across Green-Duwamish watershed using citizen science • Other pollutants of interest – Mercury, PAHs, PCBs, dioxins and furans, PDBEs, pesticides/herbicides, radionuclides

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Field Assistance Isotopic Work SEAN CALLAHAN JAKE BETZEN CONSTANCE LI RUSSELL KRAMER CARLY MARSHALL DR. BRUCE NELSON DR. SCOTT KUEHNER LINNEA MCCANN Thesis Committee Funding Permits USDA MCINTIRE- STENNIS HOH RIVER TRUST CITY OF SEATTLE WDNR (MBS/OLY) DR. TOM DELUCA DR. PATRICK TOBIN DR. JOEL THORNTON Lab Assistance SI GAO DONGSEN XU