Spatial distribution of selenium and other potentially toxic elements surrounding mountaintop coal mines in the Elk Valley, British Columbia, Canada.

ABSTRACT: Despite the extensive use of mountaintop coal mining in the Elk Valley, British Columbia, Canada's largest metallurgical coal-producing region, little is known about the transport and deposition of fugitive dust emissions within its mountain landscape. This study aimed to assess the extent and spatial distribution of selenium and other potentially toxic elements (PTEs) near the town of Sparwood originating from fugitive dust emitted from two mountaintop coal mines. To achieve these objectives concentrations of 47 elements within moss tissues of Hylocomium splendens, Pleurozium schreberi, and Ptilium crista-castrensis were analyzed from 19 locations between May 29 to June 1, 2022. Contamination factors were then calculated to identify areas of contamination, along with

SUBMITTER: Petryshen W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10320305 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature