Assessment of atmospheric elemental depositions in the Saguenay Fjord, Quebec, Canada

Michel, Laurie 1 ; Houle, Daniel2; Bellenger, Jean-Philippe1

Published Apr 28, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.37pvmcw0s

Data files

Apr 28, 2026 version files 20.88 KB

pschreberi_comparison_QC_Saguenay.csv

1.30 KB
pschreberi_saguenay_elements_concentrations.csv

7.12 KB
pschreberi_saguenay_statistical_summary.csv

1.24 KB
quality_control.csv

1.50 KB
README.md

7.74 KB
sampling_points_distances_altitude.csv

1.98 KB

Abstract

The Saguenay fjord in Quebec, Canada, is an ecologically sensitive area that encompasses two protected zones. While mitigation efforts are in place to limit anthropogenic pollution, recent investments in the region may increase human activities, such as river traffic and metallurgical industry operations, which could exert additional pressure on the environment and contribute to atmospheric deposition of trace elements. This study aims to assess the levels and potential sources of these elements through biomonitoring using the moss species Pleurozium schreberi. A total of 30 samples were collected, and 38 elements were analyzed using ICP-MS and ICP-AES techniques. The moss elemental ratios (La/Ce, La/Sm, La/V, V/Ni) indicated a predominance of crustal sources, except for samples affected by aluminum smelters located to the west of the fjord. Additionally, a few correlations suggested a moderate impact from road traffic. Overall, the concentrations measured were low, indicating a currently weak anthropogenic pressure on the region.

Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.37pvmcw0s

Description of the data and file structure

Mosses from the species Pleurozium schreberi were collected at the vicinity of the Saguenay fjord, Quebec, Canada. Samples were collected at different distances from the fjord and from the city of Saguenay, at the east of the fjord.

Files and variables

All of the files are in the .csv format, with semi-colons as delimiters.

File: quality_control.csv

Description: This file contains the quality control used to validate the data. Empty cells correspond to missing values in the reference (Steinnes et al. 1997 (doi: 10.1007/s007690050141). Here are the column descriptions:

Element : Names of the elements measured in ICP-MS (Agilent 7850) and ICP-OES (PerkinElmer Avio 500).
REF_MEAN_ppm : Mean reference concentrations given in ppm (part per million). Reference values are extracted from the moss M3, a moss from the Pleurozium schreberi species collected in northern Finland by Steinnes et al. 1997 (doi: 10.1007/s007690050141).
REF_SD_ppm : Standard deviations of the reference values given in ppm (part per million). Reference values are extracted from the moss M3, a moss from the Pleurozium schreberi species collected in northern Finland by Steinnes et al. 1997 (doi: 10.1007/s007690050141).
MEASURED_MEAN_ppm : Mean concentrations measured over 3 replicates of M3. All values are presented in ppm, except for the elements not reported by Steinnes et al. 1997, where the recovery at 25 ppt is presented (Ti, Pr, Nd, Eu, Tb, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu).
MEASURED_SD_ppm : Standard deviation of the concentration measured over 3 replicates of M3. All values are presented in ppm, except for the elements not reported by Steinnes et al. 1997, where the recovery at 25 ppt is presented (Ti, Pr, Nd, Eu, Tb, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu).
RSD_percentage : Relative standard deviation calculated as MEASURED_SD_ppm / MEASURED_MEAN_ppm.
ACCURACY_percentage : Accuracy calculated as (MEASURED_MEAN_ppm - REF_MEAN_ppm) / REF_MEAN_ppm.
LOD_ppm : Limit of detection calculated as 3*SD_blanks (SD_blanks being the standard deviation of 3 replicates of blanks).
LOQ_ppm : Limit of detection calculated as 10*SD_blanks (SD_blanks being the standard deviationof 3 replicates of blanks).

File: pschreberi_saguenay_elements_concentrations.csv

Description: Elemental concentrations (ppm) measured in P. schreberi in the Saguenay Fjord at different distances from the fjord and from the city.

The two first columns represent the latitude and the longitude of the sampling points, in decimal degrees. The others correspond to each element measured in this study, SUM_REE being the sum of the rare earth elements measured in this study (Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu).

File: sampling_points_distances_altitude.csv

Description: Explicative variables used for assessing the sources of trace elements in P. schreberi in the Saguenay Fjord. All of the datasets were reprojected in EPSG:32198 / NAD83 - Quebec Lambert.

Latitude_DD : Latitude of the sampling points in decimal degrees.
Longitude_DD : Longitude of the sampling points in decimal degrees.
Altitude_m : Altitude from the sea level in meters. Data were taken from https://www.donneesquebec.ca/recherche/dataset/modeles-numeriques-d-altitude-a-l-echelle-de-1-20-000 (see Access information section).
distance_road_m : Distance from the road, defined as the shortest distance between the sampling point and the road. Road data were taken from https://www.donneesquebec.ca/recherche/dataset/debit-de-circulation. Distances were measured on QGIS v3.34.15.
distance_river_m : Distance from the Saguenay river, defined as the shortest distance between the sampling point and the river. River data were taken from https://www.donneesquebec.ca/recherche/dataset/grhq. Distances were measured on QGIS v3.34.15.
distance_city_m : Distance from the Saguenay city, defined as the shortest distance between the sampling point and the central point of the Saguenay city (48.43021, -70.89823). Distances were measured on QGIS v3.34.15.

File: pschreberi_saguenay_statistical_summary.csv

Description: Statistical summary of the elemental concentrations measured in P. schreberi in the Saguenay Fjord.

Element : Names of the elements measured in ICP-MS (Agilent 7850) and ICP-OES (PerkinElmer Avio 500). SUM_REE represents the sum of the rare earth elements measured in this study (Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu).
MEAN_ppm : Mean of the elemental concentrations measured in in P. schreberi in the Saguenay Fjord (n = 30).
MEDIAN_ppm : Median of the elemental concentrations measured in in P. schreberi in the Saguenay Fjord (n = 30).
SD_ppm : Standard deviation of the elemental concentrations measured in in P. schreberi in the Saguenay Fjord (n = 30).
MIN_ppm : Minimum value of the elemental concentrations measured in in P. schreberi in the Saguenay Fjord.
MAX_ppm : Maximum value of the elemental concentrations measured in in P. schreberi in the Saguenay Fjord.
CV_percent : Coefficient of variation calculated as SD_ppm / MEAN_ppm.

File: pschreberi_comparison_QC_Saguenay.csv

Description: Comparison of the concentrations measured in P. schreberi in the Quebec province (Michel et al., 2025, doi : 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144649), and in the Saguenay Fjord (present study).

Element : Names of the elements measured in ICP-MS (Agilent 7850) and ICP-OES (PerkinElmer Avio 500). SUM_REE being the sum of the rare earth elements measured in this study (Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu).
MEAN_QC_ppm : Mean concentrations measured in P. schreberi in the Quebec province (Michel et al., 2025, doi : 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144649).
MEAN_Saguenay_ppm : Mean concentrations measured in P. schreberi in the Saguenay Fjord (present study).
Saguenay_QC_ratio : Ratio between the elemental concentration measured in the Quebec province and the Saguenay Fjord, calculated as MEAN_Saguenay_ppm / MEAN_QC_ppm.

Code/software

Data are provided in .csv format.

Access information

Data was derived from the following sources:

Roads data were taken from MINISTÈRE DES TRANSPORTS ET DE LA MOBILITÉ DURABLE. Débit de circulation, [Jeu de données], dans Données Québec, 2017, mis à jour le 04 mars 2026. [https://www.donneesquebec.ca/recherche/dataset/debit-de-circulation].
Altitude was taken from MINISTÈRE DES RESSOURCES NATURELLES ET DES FORÊTS. Modèles numériques de terrain à l’échelle de 1/20 000, [Jeu de données], dans Données Québec, 2019, mis à jour le 25 mars 2026. [https://www.donneesquebec.ca/recherche/dataset/modeles-numeriques-d-altitude-a-l-echelle-de-1-20-000].
River was taken from MINISTÈRE DES RESSOURCES NATURELLES ET DES FORÊTS. Géobase du réseau hydrographique du Québec (GRHQ), [Jeu de données], dans Données Québec, 2019, mis à jour le 22 avril 2026. [https://www.donneesquebec.ca/recherche/dataset/grhq].