PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” are one of Minnesota’s big environmental challenges. Our state agencies spend a lot of time tracking them in water, soil, and even fish. But when it comes to the air we breathe, there are still a lot of unknowns.
Why? Because traditional air sampling gear is expensive and can only be used in a few places. That leaves big gaps across the state.
So, what’s the solution? Turns out, it’s been growing all around us the whole time - pine trees! With help from the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF), funded by lottery dollars, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is using pine needles to study PFAS in the air.
And pine needles aren’t just helping scientists. They’re also part of the fun this holiday season! Scratch the $2 Holiday Wishes scratch ticket and you’ll catch that cozy “fresh from the woods” vibe, plus, you could win up to $10,000. Now that’s pine-tacular!
Pine Needles: Nature’s Air Filters
Pine trees don’t just look great and smell amazing—they also do a fantastic job of “recording” what’s floating through the air. Their waxy needles act like sticky filters, catching airborne chemicals like PFAS.
Why pine needles are perfect for the job:
- Easy and inexpensive to collect.
- Capture pollution from near and far.
- Found even in the most remote corners of Minnesota.
- New growth shows what’s happening right now.
- Old samples (some from the 1800s!) give us a peek into the past.
A Team Effort
This project is bringing together some pretty unique Minnesota resources:
- Volunteers in all 87 counties collecting pine needles.
- Eurofins Laboratories doing high-tech testing.
- The Bell Museum Herbarium, with pine needle samples dating back to 1875.
By combining historical and brand-new samples, scientists will get the clearest picture yet of PFAS in Minnesota’s air.
What We’ll Learn
By studying pine needles, we can:
- See where PFAS are showing up across Minnesota.
- Find “hot spots” near possible sources.
- Understand how PFAS move through the environment.
- Get clues about how PFAS end up in our lakes, rivers, and fish.
- Track how levels have changed over time.
Looking Ahead
It’s pretty amazing that something as simple as a pine needle can help unlock big answers about our environment. This project will help close data gaps and protect Minnesota’s natural resources. Pine trees bring us so much extra joy too - whether it’s seeing the winter boughs on a snowy evening, listening to the crackle of logs of a cozy fire, or scratching a pine-scented holiday ticket.
Pick up a Holiday Wishes scratch ticket for your chance to win up to $10,000 instantly—or enter non-winning tickets for a 2nd Chance at shot at holiday cheer.
And remember, every time you play, lottery dollars support projects just like this one—that protect our environment and benefit all of Minnesota. Learn more about how we are all Playing Our Part.