The influence of airborne road dust on the chemistry of Sphagnum mosses

Chemical analysis of Sphagnum moss samples collected from a raised Sphagnum bog along a transect at right angles to and away from a gravel road at pointe Escuminac, New Brunswick, Canada, shows that concentrations of the elements Al, Cr, Fe, La, Ni, Sc, Sm and V are strongly correlated with one another, and their concentrations decrease logarithmically away from the road to a distance of 200 m. These element are deposited primarily in wind borne soil dust. Concentrations of Na and Cl are correlated; their primary source is precipitation enriched by sea spray. Amounts of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn are also intercorrelated and vary independently of other elements; their primary source is air pollution.