Published In
Communications Sustainability
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-9-2026
Subjects
Moss Biomonitoring -- Oregon
Abstract
Lead emissions from piston-engine aircraft using leaded aviation gasoline (avgas) remain a significant source of environmental contamination near regional airports, posing potential health risks to nearby communities. Passive biomonitoring using the epiphytic moss Orthotrichum lyellii was combined with lead isotope fingerprinting to quantify lead concentrations and distinguish between legacy leaded gasoline and current avgas emissions near Hillsboro and Troutdale airports in Oregon. Here we show that lead levels are elevated by up to 50 times the rural background near airports, with isotopic signatures confirming avgas as a dominant local source. These findings indicate that avgas use contributes substantially to environmental lead burdens in adjacent residential neighborhoods. Moss biomonitoring offers a cost-effective approach for detecting and mapping lead pollution from airport emissions, supporting efforts to evaluate exposure risks and inform regulatory actions aimed at reducing lead exposure from aviation sources.
Rights
Copyright (c) 2026 The Authors
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Locate the Document
https://doi.org/10.1038/s44458-026-00130-x
DOI
10.1038/s44458-026-00130-x
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/45064
Citation Details
Aderinboye, O. E., Shiel, A. E., Stalford, L., Murphy, C. J., & Atkinson, D. B. (2026). Moss biomonitoring and isotopic signatures reveal aviation fuel as local lead source near Oregon airports. Communications Sustainability, 1(1).