Airborne contaminants such as mercury, pesticides, and other toxics are measured in sediment, fish, and other ecosystem components. This information helps land managers and scientists assess ecosystem health. It also provides insight about data gaps and can help identify areas for future research.
Click on the map below to access contaminant sampling locations with links to associated websites, fact sheets, reports, and journal articles. When the map is zoomed out, sample sites are grouped into clusters. Zoom in to find and select individual sampling sites.
Inter-agency workgroups formed to improve coordination on contaminants-related monitoring and research after studies found elevated levels of airborne contaminants in national parks in the Pacific Northwest and Sierra Nevada-Southern Cascades. The following participating agencies contributed data to this map: U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, California Environmental Protection Agency, Washington Department of Ecology, U.S. Geological Survey, and the National Park Service.
s
Last updated: September 11, 2018