Lead and cadmium in moss

Related goal

Emissions and use of hazardous substances will not cause injury to health, harm ecosystems, or damage the productivity of the natural environment and its capacity for self-renewal. Concentrations of the most hazardous chemicals in the environment will be reduced towards background values for naturally occurring substances and close to zero concentrations for man-made synthetic substances.

Lead in moss, 1977-2005 Cadmium in moss, 1977-2005

Are we making progress?

Measurements of concentrations in moss and modelling techniques show that inputs of certain heavy metals, particularly lead, dropped during the 1990s. However, concentrations of mercury are still high enough to give cause for concern. The highest levels of heavy metal pollution as a result of long-range transport are found in the southern half of Norway.