Study Examines Air Pollution in Pristine Areas

A wild landscape of trembling aspen groves and rough fescue grasslands, Elk Island National Park is a refuge for many rare species in Alberta—from elk and bison to Trumpeter Swans. Its location just 35 kilometres downwind of Edmonton and its proximity to Fort Saskatchewan Industrial Park and rural farming operations makes this parkland susceptible to pollution from beyond its borders.

Concerned over the impact of urban emissions on human and environmental health, and the transport of human-made pollutants to pristine areas, Environment Canada launched an air quality study in the park in the summer of 1998. With the help of scientists from Parks Canada, the Department installed special air-monitoring equipment to measure fine particulate matter in the park's air. Fine particles (called PM_2.5 because they are 2.5 microns or less in diameter) are a major health concern because they are small enough to be inhaled, and have been linked to respiratory problems in human beings.

Proposed industrial development in the Fort Saskatchewan area has also generated interest in a cooperative process to address these concerns. The Fort Air Partnership, a multi-stakeholder group made up of representatives from industry, government, and non-government organizations, is establishing a network of air quality sampling stations in the region to monitor these effects, and Elk Island will be one of its key sites.

Preliminary measurements of PM_2.5 at Elk Island show concentrations only slightly lower than in Edmonton. While this is still lower than in most major cities in Canada, such as Montréal and Toronto, it is three arial the level measured at clean rural locations. Analysis of the wind speed and direction confirmed that the city is the main contributor, while the industrial park and agricultural regions are secondary sources.

Although a great deal of work has been done on pollutants in areas like Toronto and Vancouver, little has been carried out at latitudes above 50° North. The Elk Island project provides an opportunity to study the generation of fine particles under climatic conditions that are unique to this northern latitude.

Data gathered at the park show particulate concentrations increase at both warm and cold temperatures. In winter, increased use of fossil fuels for transportation, heating and power generation from urban and industrial sources appear to be part of the reason. Scientists also noted a daily increase in fine particulate matter around 9 a.m. and again from 6-7 p.m. throughout the year, due to rush-hour traffic. This made it possible to calculate the speed of atmospheric transport from Edmonton to Elk Island at about two hours.

The next step in the project will be to install ozone-measuring and chemical analysis instruments at Elk Island this summer. This will enable scientists to determine the relative contribution of urban, industrial and agricultural sectors and different activities within them to fine particulate mass in the park's air. Tracking pollutants to their sources—whether they be coal-fired power plants or motor vehicles—will help Edmonton and other cities with similar concerns plan more effective energy-efficiency or clean-air campaigns.

Another aspect of the Elk Island project will be to investigate the respiratory health of the bison in the park to determine the effects of low-level continuous exposure to fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone. Efforts are currently focused on finding a way to attach air quality monitors to several of the animals when they are rounded up for their annual medical examinations this fall.

The information gathered through these efforts will not only serve as a baseline for gauging the impact of future development, but also improve efforts to protect pristine areas of the country from the effects of urban air pollution.

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