The Long-Range Atmospheric Transport of Trace Elements a Critical Evaluation

Abstract

Throughout the earth's geological history trace elements have been atmospherically transported from continent to continent and from continent to ocean; this long-range atmospheric transport is now recognized as an important, if not the most important, mode of global transport for a variety of trace substances and elements. The anthropogenic trace substances found in remote locations attest to the rapidity and extent of such transport.Trace elements are of interest in studies of long-range atmospheric transport because of their importance in biogeochemical processes, including global oceanic fluxes. Tracers from particular source regions or industrial processes, including various metals with characteristic origins, have been used to document the dispersal caused by atmospheric transport. Trace elements with magnitudes and sources well documented 37 A. H. Knap (ed.), The Long-Range Atmospheric Transport o/Natural and Contaminant Substances, 37-58.

Increased Oxidative Burden Associated with Traffic Component of Ambient Particulate Matter at Roadside and Urban Background Schools Sites in London

“…A relationship was found for Ni and V with Zn for all size-fractions (p<0.01) with the exception of V-Zn for PM 0.2 . Ni, V and Zn may be derived from both non-tailpipe vehicle [32] – [35] and oil combustion emissions [36] – [38] . A significant relationship between Zn with Fe and Cu (p<0.05) was observed for PM 0.2–1 (p<0.01) and PM 1.9–10.2 .…”

Micromorphological investigation of pedogenic barite in Mormon Mesa petrocalcic horizons, Nevada USA: Implication for genesis

“…Eolian-sourced barium and sulfate ions reach southern Nevada in various amounts from multiple sources in the southwestern United States, including: (i) far-reaching dust derived from terrestrial sources of gypsum, barite, and other salts (Junge and Werby, 1958;Reheis et al, 2002;Reynolds et al, 2006), (ii) from weathering and transport of high-Ba rocks of the Lake Mead region and immediate vicinity (Smith, 1981), and (iii) atmospheric sources from anthropogenic activity such as the burning of diesel fuels (including nearby Las Vegas and interstate I-15) (Church et al, 1990).…”

Trace elements in aerosol particles from Bermuda and Barbados: Concentrations, sources and relationships to aerosol sulfate

“…A variety of other natural sources, including volcanoes, wildfires, and biota, are important for some of these elements (e.g., Church et al, 1990a), but anthropogenic emissions have enriched each of these elements over their natural levels in the atmosphere. Although there is considerable uncertainty as to the exact magnitude of the perturbations due to human activities, assessments by Lantzy and MacKenzie (1979), Nriagu and Pacyna (1988), and Nriagu (1989) all indicate that the anthropogenic inputs of several potentially toxic trace metals into the atmosphere are substantially larger than those associated with natural sources.…”