U. Pott et Dh. Turpin, ASSESSMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC HEAVY-METALS BY MOSS MONITORING WITH ISOTHECIUM-STOLONIFERUM BRID IN THE FRASER VALLEY, BC, CANADA, Water, air and soil pollution, 101(1-4), 1998, pp. 25-44
The atmospheric heavy metal pollution of the Fraser Valley, B.C., Cana
da was assessed in 1993 by analyzing 62 samples of the common woodland
moss Isothecium stoloniferum for lead, cadmium, nickel, zinc, chromiu
m, and manganese. The latter two metals did no: show a distinct region
al distribution, but lead, cadmium, nickel, and zinc showed distinct p
attern along a west-east gradient. High values were found in the metro
politan Vancouver area, located in the west of the study region. Signi
ficantly lower values were recorded for mosses from the eastern more r
ural areas of the Fraser Valley. Metal pollutants are likely to be con
tained close to their emission sources by alternating south-east, nort
h-west winds. Highest values overall were found in the North Shore Mou
ntains, adjacent to Vancouver. This was related to higher precipitatio
n and short range pollutant transport from the industrialized, heavily
populated areas in the floodplain of the Fraser River.