NPS: Nature & Science» Air Resources Division

WACAP - Western Airborne Contaminants Assessment Project

A window into the contaminant situation at 20 national parks from the Arctic to the Mexican border.

WACAP Overview

The Western Airborne Contaminants Assessment Project (WACAP) was initiated to determine the risk to ecosystems and food webs in western national parks from the long-range transport of airborne contaminants. It was designed and implemented by the National Park Service's Air Resources Division in cooperation with many western national parks, the Environmental Protection Agency, the US Geological Survey, the US Forest Service, Oregon State University, and University of Washington.

Project Photos: Research vessel, Glacier NP

The project objectives were:

Determine if contaminants are present in western national parks
If present, determine where contaminants are accumulating (geographically and by elevation)
If present, determine which contaminants pose a potential ecological threat
Determine which indicators appear to be the most useful to address contamination
Determine the sources for contaminants measured at the national park sites

WACAP fact sheet (pdf, 6mb)

Fact Sheets

A 4-page project summary and information transfer tool can be downloaded in a low resolution screen (letter, pdf 6mb), high resolution screen (letter, pdf 49mb) or high-resolution printer (tabloid, pdf 49mb) version.

WACAP report (pdf, 29 mb)

Report

The WACAP report was published in Jan. 2008 and announced (pdf, 29kb) in Feb. 2008. An errata sheet was posted in Nov. 2008, and the report PDFs posted have been updated accordingly. Access either the (A) entire Volume I – Final Report or entire Volume II – Appendices, or (B) individual chapters from either Volume I or II. more »

Scientific Publications

The WACAP study produced ten published journal articles by project PIs, and more are in preparation and/or review. Additionally, access WACAP abstracts from numerous oral and written presentations given by WACAP researchers and NPS staff at various scientific venues.

Project Photos:: Snow Sampling, Olympic NP

Popular Media

Feature stories highlight the WACAP study and design, results, and implications for a general, non-technical audience, while a WACAP interview and WACAP Video offer perspective from the public eye.

Database

A database containing all the physical, chemical, and biological data collected in the study will be made available on NPS and EPA websites in summer 2009. This data can then be used by managers and scientists worldwide to conduct future comparisons with other studies.

Key Findings

Project Photos: Fish analysis, Rocky MountainNP

Results from this project add considerably to the state of the science concerning contaminant transport and subsequent biological effects in remote national park ecosystems. More »

Updated Status

WACAP findings not only provide impetus for more in-depth research, but also provide one of many motives needed for additional protection of national park resources. WACAP Status: February 2009 (pdf, 32kb)

Human Health Implications

Airborne contaminants can pose serious health threats to wildlife and humans, as some of these compounds tend to "biomagnify" in the food chain, ultimately leading to toxic impacts. A briefing (pdf, 61kb) provided by the NPS Office of Public Health offers perspective on how to interpret WACAP results in the context of human health.

Workshops: Pre & Post – WACAP

Project Photos:: Study Site, Sequoia NP

Pre – The 2001 NPS Air Toxics Seattle Workshop was designed to be a first step to address air toxics in national parks in the western U.S.
Post – In light of WACAP findings, regionally-held interagency contaminants workshops are facilitating communication, fostering research and collaborative monitoring initiatives on toxics in the environment, and furthering understanding of the effects of airborne contaminants. more »

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