Marine and terrestrial contributions to atmospheric deposition fluxes of methylated arsenic species
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Arsenic, a toxic element from both anthropogenic and natural sources, reaches surface environments through atmospheric cycling and dry and wet deposition. Biomethylation volatilizes arsenic into the atmosphere and deposition cycles it back to the surface, affecting soil-plant systems. Chemical speciation of deposited arsenic is important for understanding further processing in soils and bioavailability. However, the range of atmospheric transport and source signature of arsenic species remain understudied. Here we report significant levels of methylated arsenic in precipitation, cloud water and aerosols collected under free tropospheric conditions at Pic du Midi Observatory (France) indicating long-range transport, which is crucial for atmospheric budgets. Through chemical analyses and moisture source diagnostics, we identify terrestrial and marine sources for distinct arsenic species. Estimated atmospheric deposition fluxes of methylated arsenic are similar to reported methylation rates in soils, highlighting atmospheric deposition as a significant, overlooked source of potentially bioavailable methylated arsenic species impacting plant uptake in soils.
Source: Nature Communications
Institutions: ETH Zurich, Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, University of Bern, Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, Colorado State University, Federal Institute For Materials Research and Testing, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Université de Toulouse
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Chemistry
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,790
Awards: Biomethylation and biovolatilisation of arsenic, antimony and mercury. Local environmental issues, novel analytical approaches and global implications, Unraveling Pathways of Biovolatilization of Selenium from Seawater: New Insights from Organic speciation and Transformations, Leveraging water isotope observations to establish robust constraints for precipitation efficiency (PERISCOPE), G7321148039, Entwicklung einer automatisierten online CE MultikollektorICPMS Kopplung für die speziesspezifische Isotopenverhältnisanalyse von Biomolekülen
OpenAlex ID: W4404142444