Journal article
Spatial predictors of heavy metal concentrations in epiphytic moss samples in Seattle, WA
The Science of the total environment, v 825, 153801
15 Jun 2022
PMID: 35151745
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The use of bio-indicators is an emerging, cost-effective alternative approach to identifying air pollution and assessing the need for additional air monitoring. This community science project explores the use of moss samples as bio-indicators of the distribution of metal air particulates in two residential neighborhoods of the industrial Duwamish Valley located in Seattle, WA (USA). We applied geographically weighted regression to data from 61 youth-collected samples to assess the location-specific area-level spatial predictors of the concentrations of 25 elements with focus on five heavy metals of concern due to health and environmental considerations. Spatial predictors included traffic volume, industrial land uses, major roadways, the airport, dirt roads, the Duwamish River, impervious surfaces, tree canopy cover, and sociodemographics. Traffic volume surrounding sample locations was the most consistent positive predictor of increasing heavy metal concentration. Greater distance from the heavy-industry corridor surrounding the Duwamish River predicted lower concentrations of all metals, with statistically significant associations for chromium and lead in some areas. As the distance from dirt roads increased, the concentration of arsenic and chromium decreased significantly. Percent tree canopy within 200 m of sample locations was a significant protective factor for cadmium concentrations. In addition, percent people of color was significantly positively associated with increasing lead, chromium and nickel concentrations. Our findings underscore the potential influence of heavy industry and mobile sources on heavy metal concentrations, the buffering potential of trees in local environments, and persistent opportunity to improve environmental justice.
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•Epiphytic moss is an emerging, cost-effective, approach to identifying air pollution.•Local youth collected 61 moss samples, analyzed for concentrations of 25 elements.•We assessed the location-specific spatial predictors of heavy metal concentrations.•Traffic, dirt roads, industrial corridor predicted higher concentrations.•Tree canopy predicted lower metal concentrations.
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Details
- Title
- Spatial predictors of heavy metal concentrations in epiphytic moss samples in Seattle, WA
- Creators
- Michelle C. Kondo - Northern Research StationChristopher Zuidema - University of WashingtonHector A. Moran - 2130 Aqueduct Avenue, Bronx, NY 10453, United States of AmericaSarah Jovan - Pacific Northwest Research StationMonika Derrien - Pacific Northwest Research StationWeston Brinkley - Street Sounds Ecology, LLC, 312 NW 81st St, Seattle, WA 98117, United States of AmericaAnneclaire J. De Roos - Drexel UniversityLoni Philip Tabb - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- The Science of the total environment, v 825, 153801
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Urban Health Collaborative; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Environmental and Occupational Health
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000764892900016
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85125294462
- Other Identifier
- 991019168302404721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences