Influence of Transboundary Air Pollution on Acid-sensitive Ecosystems

72 Pages·2013·2.72 MB·English

Climate Change Research Programme (CCRP) 2007-2013
Report Series No. 31
Influence of Transboundary
Air Pollution on Acid-sensitive
Ecosystems
Comhshaol, Pobal agus Rialtas Áitiúil
Environment, Community and Local Government
EPA Inside Pages NEW_Blue Text 07/06/2013 10:12 Page 1
Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is REGULATING IRELAND’S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
a statutory body responsible for protecting n Quantifying Ireland’s emissions of greenhouse gases
the environment in Ireland. We regulate and in the context of our Kyoto commitments
police activities that might otherwise cause n Implementing the Emissions Trading Directive,
pollution. We ensure there is solid involving over 100 companies who are major
generators of carbon dioxide in Ireland.
information on environmental trends so that
necessary actions are taken. Our priorities are
protecting the Irish environment and ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
ensuring that development is sustainable. n Co-ordinating research on environmental issues
(including air and water quality, climate change,
The EPA is an independent public body
biodiversity, environmental technologies).
established in July 1993 under the
Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992.
STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Its sponsor in Government is the Department
n Assessing the impact of plans and programmes on
of the Environment, Community and Local
the Irish environment (such as waste management
Government. and development plans).
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING, EDUCATION AND
GUIDANCE
LICENSING n Providing guidance to the public and to industry on
various environmental topics (including licence
We license the following to ensure that their emissions
applications, waste prevention and environmental
do not endanger human health or harm the
regulations).
environment:
n Generating greater environmental awareness
n waste facilities (e.g., landfills, incinerators, waste (through environmental television programmes and
transfer stations); primary and secondary schools’ resource packs).
n large scale industrial activities (e.g., pharmaceutical
manufacturing, cement manufacturing, power
PROACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
plants);
n Promoting waste prevention and minimisation
n intensive agriculture;
projects through the co-ordination of the National
n the contained use and controlled release of
Waste Prevention Programme, including input into
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs);
the implementation of Producer Responsibility
n large petrol storage facilities; Initiatives.
n waste water discharges; n Enforcing Regulations such as Waste Electrical and
n dumping at sea. Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and Restriction of
Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and substances that
deplete the ozone layer.
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT
n Developing a National Hazardous Waste Management
n Conducting over 1200 audits and inspections of EPA Plan to prevent and manage hazardous waste.
licensed facilities every year.
n Overseeing local authorities’ environmental
MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE OF THE EPA
protection responsibilities in the areas of - air,
noise, waste, waste-water and water quality. The organisation is managed by a full time Board,
n Working with local authorities and the Gardaí to consisting of a Director General and four Directors.
stamp out illegal waste activity by co-ordinating a
national enforcement network, targeting offenders, The work of the EPA is carried out across four offices:
conducting investigations and overseeing n Office of Climate, Licensing and Resource Use
remediation.
n Office of Environmental Enforcement
n Prosecuting those who flout environmental law and
n Office of Environmental Assessment
damage the environment as a result of their actions.
n Office of Communications and Corporate Services
MONITORING, ANALYSING AND REPORTING ON THE
ENVIRONMENT The EPA is assisted by an Advisory Committee of twelve
members who meet several times a year to discuss
n Monitoring air quality and the quality of rivers,
issues of concern and offer advice to the Board.
lakes, tidal waters and ground waters; measuring
water levels and river flows.
n Independent reporting to inform decision making by
national and local government.
EPA Climate Change Research Programme 2007–2013
Influence of Transboundary Air Pollution
on Acid-sensitive Ecosystems
Assessing the Influence of Transboundary Air Pollution
on Acid-sensitive Lakes and Soils:
Survey of Upland Acidic Systems (SUAS)
(2007-CCRP-4.4.4b)
CCRP Report
Prepared for the Environmental Protection Agency
by
Trent University
Authors:
Julian Aherne, Andrew Burton, Heidi Scott, Colin Whitfield & Marta Wolniewicz

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
An Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil
PO Box 3000, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford, Ireland
Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected] Website: www.epa.ie
© Environmental Protection Agency 2013
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This report is published as part of the Climate Change Research Programme 2007–2013. The programme
is financed by the Interdepartmental Committee for Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation
and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It is administered on behalf of
the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government by the Environmental Protection
Agency which has the statutory function of co-ordinating and promoting environmental research.
The authors gratefully acknowledge the EPA for financial support, and in particular Dave Dodd for
his dedication and patience as EPA project technical officer. The authors further acknowledge the
time commitment and data contributions from many dedicated individuals (and agencies), such as
Jim Bowman, Deirdre Tierney, Caroline Wynne, John Lucey, Phillip O’Brien (EPA), and Margaret
Ryan (Met Éireann) to name a few. The project also benefited from the goodwill and support of many
researchers; we are very grateful to Dr William (Bill) Patterson, University of Saskatchewan, for
providing oxygen isotopes analysis, Dr Thomas Clair, Environment Canada, for providing quality
control analysis on major ion chemistry, and Dr Tom Harner, Environment Canada, and Todd Gouin,
Unilever, for support with persistent organic pollutants. In addition, we are very thankful to the many
individuals at Trent University and University College Dublin who contributed to the research through
data analysis, laboratory support and many hours in the field.
DISCLAIMER
Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material contained in this publication,
complete accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Neither the Environmental Protection Agency nor the
author(s) accept any responsibility whatsoever for loss or damage occasioned or claimed to have been
occasioned, in part or in full, as a consequence of any person acting, or refraining from acting, as
a result of a matter contained in this publication. All or part of this publication may be reproduced
without further permission, provided the source is acknowledged.
The EPA CCRP Programme addresses the need for research in Ireland to inform policymakers and
other stakeholders on a range of questions in relation to environmental protection. These reports are
intended as contributions to the necessary debate on the protection of the environment.
EPA CCRP PROGRAMME 2007–2013
Published by the Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland
ISBN: 978-1-84095-525-5
Price: Free Online version
ii
Details of Project Partners
Julian Aherne Thomas Cummins
Environmental and Resource Studies UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science
Trent University Agriculture and Food Science Centre
1600 West Drive University College Dublin
Peterborough Belfield
Ontario K9J 7B8 Dublin 4
Canada Ireland
Tel.: [phone] Tel.: [phone]
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
iii

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ii
Disclaimer ii
Details of Project Partners iii
Report Contributors vii
Executive Summary ix
1 Transboundary Air Pollution 1
1.1 Emissions Reductions and Study Objectives 1
2 Precipitation Chemistry: Spatial Patterns and Long-term Trends 4
2.1 Precipitation Chemistry Monitoring Network 4
2.2 Spatial Variation in Sulphur and Nitrogen Concentrations and Depositions 5
2.3 Long-term Sulphur and Nitrogen Precipitation Concentrations 8
3 Influence of Transboundary Air Pollution on Acid-sensitive Lakes 10
3.1 Survey of Acid-sensitive Lakes 10
3.2 Response of Acid-sensitive Lakes to Changes in Atmospheric Deposition 11
3.3 Controls on Trace Metals in Acid-sensitive Lakes 14
3.4 Influence of Sea-Salt Events on the Chemistry of Acid-sensitive Lakes 17
3.5 Controls on Greenhouse Gas Concentrations in Acid-sensitive Lakes 22
4 Physicochemical Characteristics of Upland Acid-sensitive Soils 26
4.1 Survey of Upland Acid-sensitive Soils 26
4.2 Physicochemical Characteristics of Acid-sensitive Soils 26
4.3 Relationship between Lake and Soil Chemistry 30
4.4 Soil Geochemistry and Weathering 31
5 Upland Lake Catchments: Persistent Organic Pollutants and Mercury 33
5.1 Monitoring of Upland Catchments 33
5.2 Mercury in Upland Acid-sensitive Catchments 35
5.3 Persistent Organic Pollutants in Upland Acid-sensitive Catchments 37
6 Conclusions and Recommendations 42
References 44
Acronyms and Abbreviations 49
Appendix 1. Project Outputs 51
Appendix 2. Data Submitted to the Secure Archive for
Environmental Research 53
Appendix 3. Upland Study Catchments: Site Characteristics 55
Report Contributors
Many individuals contributed to this research report and the project outputs
(Appendix 1), including co-authors, and data and laboratory analysts. The contributors
and their role are listed below (with relevant report sections).
Kevin Adkinson: water and soil laboratory analysis (Sections 3–5)
Julian Aherne: editor and lead author (Sections 1–5)
Carlo Arcieri: soil laboratory analysis (Section 4)
Andrew Burton: recovery and metals author, and soil analysis (Sections 3 and 4)
Thomas Cummins: field and UCD laboratory logistics (Sections 3 and 4)
Jason Henry: nitrogen deposition and soil laboratory analysis (Sections 2 and 4)
Carolyn Reid: soil laboratory analysis (Section 4)
Heidi Scott: mercury and persistent organic pollutants author (Section 5)
Colin Whitfield: trace gases author (Section 3)
Marta Wolniewicz: influence of sea-salts co-author (Section 3)
Cian Woods: back-trajectory data analysis (Section 5)
Field Personnel
The results of the research are primarily based on data collected during several
extensive surveys of upland lakes and soils (see Appendix 2). The research would
not have been possible without the dedicated commitment of many field personnel.
Their input to the research is gratefully acknowledged.
Kevin Adkinson, Trent University: 2010–2011
Julian Aherne, Trent University: 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
Carlo Arcieri, Trent University: 2009
Andrew Burton, Trent University: 2007–2011
Jason Henry, Trent University: 2009–2011
Christian Huber, Technical University of Munich, Freising: 2008
James Johnson, University College Dublin and Trent University: 2008–2010
Andrew McDonough, Trent University: 2009
Darragh O’Brien, University College Dublin: 2010–2011
James Ouellette, Trent University: 2009
Brent Parsons, Trent University: 2007–2008
Clare Ryan, University College Dublin: 2011
Heidi Scott, Trent University: 2010–2011
Timothy Seabert, Trent University: 2007–2008
Koji Tominaga, Trent University: 2008
Colin Whitfield, Trent University: 2008
Antoni Zbieranowski, Trent University: 2008–2009
vii