We have measured the concentrations of Fe, Cu, V, Mn, Zn, Cr and Cd at 5 sites, near the Navajo Generating Station (NGS) in northeastern Arizona,  in samples of Gutierrezia sarothrae  over the past 35 years. G. sarothrae collects particulate matter on its surface and the trace metal levels from G. sarothrae provide a natural measure of exposure to atmospheric deposition in remote environments. G. sarothrae levels of Cd, Cr, Zn, Fe and V increased significantly between 1972 and 1978, the first six years of NGS operation, when only electrostatic precipitators were used to control emissions, and Mn and Cu levels were unchanged. SO2 scrubbers were installed at NGS in the 1990s and we re-sampled G. sarothrae at the 5 sites studied in the 1970s to determine the impact SO2 scrubbers had on particulate emissions from NGS.  Fe and V levels in G. sarothrae  dropped to 30% of the highest values observed in 1978, while Mn was statistically unchanged in G. sarothrae samples between 1972 through 2007. From these observations we conclude that the addition of SO2 scrubbers at Navajo Generating Station significantly reduced trace metal deposition from NGS.

Thirty-five year study of trace metal deposition from the Navajo Generating Station, a 2,250 MW coal-fired power plant located in northeastern Arizona

245th National Meeting (2013)

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