Marine and terrestrial contributions to atmospheric deposition fluxes of methylated arsenic species
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Date
2024
Publication Type
Journal Article
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yes
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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.
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published
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Journal / series
Volume
15 (1)
Pages / Article No.
9623
Publisher
Nature
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Date collected
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Subject
Atmospheric chemistry; Element cycles
Organisational unit
03850 - McNeill, Kristopher / McNeill, Kristopher
03854 - Wernli, Johann Heinrich / Wernli, Johann Heinrich
03933 - Winkel, Lenny / Winkel, Lenny
Notes
Funding
179104 - Unraveling Pathways of Biovolatilization of Selenium from Seawater: New Insights from Organic speciation and Transformations (SNF)