Atmospheric deposition of beryllium in Central Europe: comparison of soluble and insoluble fractions in rime and snow across a pollution gradient.
Little is known about atmospheric input of beryllium (Be) into ecosystems, despite its highly toxic behavior. For three consecutive winters (2009-2011), we measured Be concentrations in horizontal deposition (rime) and vertical deposition (snow) at 10 remote mountain-top locations in the Czech Republic, Central Europe. Beryllium was determined both in filtered waters, and in HF digests of insoluble particles. Across the sites, soluble Be concentrations in rime were 7 times higher, compared to snow (6.1 vs. 0.9ng·L(-1)). Rime scavenged the pollution-rich lower segments of clouds. The lowest Be concentrations were detected in the soluble fraction of snow. Across the sites, 34% of total Be deposition occurred in the form of soluble (bioavailable) Be, the rest were insoluble particles. Beryllium fluxes decreased in the order: vertical dry deposition insoluble>vertical dry deposition soluble>horizontal deposition soluble>vertical wet deposition insoluble>vertical wet deposition soluble>horizontal deposition insoluble. The average contributions of these Be forms to total deposition were 56, 21, 8, 7, 5 and 3%, respectively. Sites in the northeast were more Be-polluted than the rest of the country with sources of pollution in industrial Silesia.
Czech Geological Survey, Geologicka 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic. leona.zemanova@geology.cz
Leona
L
Bohdalkova
Martin
M
Novak
Petra
P
Voldrichova
Eva
E
Prechova
Frantisek
F
Veselovsky
Lucie
L
Erbanova
Michael
M
Krachler
Arnost
A
Komarek
Jitka
J
Mikova
D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001608:Beryllium / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005060:Europe; D007053:Ice / Q000032:analysis*; D012914:Snow / Q000737:chemistry*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D007053:Ice; D001608:Beryllium