101
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Selin NE, Sunderland EM, Knightes CD, Mason RP. Sources of mercury exposure for U.S. seafood consumers: implications for policy. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2010; 118:137-43. [PMID: 20056570 PMCID: PMC2831958 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.0900811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2009] [Accepted: 09/29/2009] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent policies attempting to reduce adverse effects of methylmercury exposure from fish consumption in the United States have targeted reductions in anthropogenic emissions from U.S. sources. OBJECTIVES To analyze the prospects for future North American and international emissions controls, we assessed the potential contributions of anthropogenic, historical, and natural mercury to exposure trajectories in the U.S. population over a 40-year time horizon. METHODS We used models that simulate global atmospheric chemistry (GEOS-Chem); the fate, transport, and bioaccumulation of mercury in four types of freshwater ecosystems; and mercury cycling among different ocean basins. We considered effects on mercury exposures in the U.S. population based on dietary survey information and consumption data from the sale of commercial market fish. RESULTS Although North American emissions controls may reduce mercury exposure by up to 50% for certain highly exposed groups such as indigenous peoples in the Northeast, the potential effects of emissions controls on populations consuming marine fish from the commercial market are less certain because of limited measurements. CONCLUSIONS Despite uncertainties in the exposure pathway, results indicate that a combination of North American and international emissions controls with adaptation strategies is necessary to manage methylmercury risks across various demographic groups in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelle E Selin
- Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-4307, USA.
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102
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Lyman SN, Gustin MS. Determinants of atmospheric mercury concentrations in Reno, Nevada, U.S.A. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2009; 408:431-438. [PMID: 19850325 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.09.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2009] [Revised: 09/20/2009] [Accepted: 09/25/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) and particulate-bound mercury (PBM) were measured along with ancillary variables 9 km east of downtown Reno, Nevada, U.S.A. from November 2006 through March 2009. Mean two-year (February 2007 through January 2009) GEM, GOM, and PBM concentrations were 2.0+/-0.7 ng m(-3) (+/-standard deviation), 18+/-22 pg m(-3), and 7+/-7 pg m(-3), respectively. Data collected were compared with observations made at another location just north of the city at 169 m higher elevation. At both locations higher concentrations of GEM and PBM occurred in periods with little atmospheric mixing, indicating that local sources were important for enhancing GEM and PBM concentrations in Reno above that considered continental background. Concentrations of GOM were higher (maximum of 177 pg m(-3)) during periods with higher temperature and lower dew point. Higher GOM concentrations at the higher elevation site with less urban impact relative to the valley site, along with other data trends, support the hypothesis that in northern Nevada subsiding dry air from the free troposphere is a source of GOM to the surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth N Lyman
- University of Nevada, Reno, Department of Natural Resources, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada 89557, United States
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103
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Carignan J, Estrade N, Sonke JE, Donard OFX. Odd isotope deficits in atmospheric Hg measured in lichens. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2009; 43:5660-5664. [PMID: 19731659 DOI: 10.1021/es900578v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Redox reactions govern mercury (Hg) concentrations in the atmosphere because fluxes (emissions and deposition), and residence times, are largely controlled by Hg speciation. Recent work on aquatic Hg photoreduction suggested that this reaction produces non-mass dependent fractionation (NMF) and that residual aquatic Hg(II)is characterized by positive delta199Hg and delta201Hg anomalies. Here, we show that atmospheric Hg accumulated in lichens is characterized by NMF with negative delta199Hg and delta201Hg values (-0.3 to -1 per thousand), making the atmosphere and the aquatic environment complementary reservoirs regarding photoreduction and NMF of Hg isotopes. Because few other reactions than aquatic Hg photoreduction induce NMF, photochemical reduction appears to be a key pathway in the global Hg cycle. Based on a NMF isotope mass balance, direct anthropogenic emissions may account for only 50 +/- 10% of atmospheric Hg deposition in an urban area of NE France. Furthermore, isotopic anomalies found in several polluted soils and sediments strongly suggests that an important part of Hg in these samples was affected by photoreactions and has cycled through the atmosphere before being stored in the geological environment. Thus, mercury isotopic anomalies measured in environmental samples may be used to trace and quantify the contribution of source emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Carignan
- CRPG, Nancy-Université, CNRS/INSU, 15 rue Notre-Dame-des-Pauvres B.P. 20 F-54501 Vandouvre lès Nancy, France.
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104
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Weiss-Penzias P, Gustin MS, Lyman SN. Observations of speciated atmospheric mercury at three sites in Nevada: Evidence for a free tropospheric source of reactive gaseous mercury. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1029/2008jd011607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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105
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Bullock OR, Atkinson D, Braverman T, Civerolo K, Dastoor A, Davignon D, Ku J, Lohman K, Myers TC, Park RJ, Seigneur C, Selin NE, Sistla G, Vijayaraghavan K. An analysis of simulated wet deposition of mercury from the North American Mercury Model Intercomparison Study. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1029/2008jd011224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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106
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Streets DG, Zhang Q, Wu Y. Projections of global mercury emissions in 2050. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2009; 43:2983-8. [PMID: 19475981 DOI: 10.1021/es802474j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Global Hg emissions are presented for the year 2050 under a variety of assumptions about socioeconomic and technology development. We find it likely that Hg emissions will increase in the future. The range of 2050 global Hg emissions is projected to be 2390-4860 Mg, compared to 2006 levels of 2480 Mg, reflecting a change of -4% to +96%. The main driving force for increased emissions is the expansion of coal-fired electricity generation in the developing world, particularly Asia. Our ability to arrest the growth in Hg emissions is limited by the relatively low Hg removal efficiency of the current generation of emission control technologies for coal-fired power plants (flue-gas desulfurization). Large-scale deployment of advanced Hg sorbent technologies, such as Activated Carbon Injection, offers the promise of lowering the 2050 emissions range to 1670-3480 Mg, but these technologies are not yet in commercial use. The share of elemental Hg in total emissions will decline from today's levels of approximately 65% to approximately 50-55% by 2050, while the share of divalent Hg will increase. This signals a shift from long-range transport of elemental Hg to local deposition of Hg compounds-though emissions of both species could increase under the worst case.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Streets
- Decision and Information Sciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA.
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107
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Choi EM, Kim SH, Holsen TM, Yi SM. Total gaseous concentrations in mercury in Seoul, Korea: Local sources compared to long-range transport from China and Japan. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2009; 157:816-822. [PMID: 19110355 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2008] [Revised: 11/14/2008] [Accepted: 11/15/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Total gaseous mercury (TGM) and carbon monoxide (CO) were measured every 5min and hourly, respectively, in Seoul, Korea, from February 2005 through December 2006. The mean concentrations of TGM and CO were 3.44+/-2.13ngm(-3) and 613+/-323ppbv, respectively. TGM and CO concentrations were highest during the winter and lowest during the summer. In total, 154 high TGM concentration events were identified: 86 were classified as long-range transport events and 68 were classified as local events. The TGM and CO concentrations were well correlated during all long-range transport events and were weakly correlated during local events. Five-day backward trajectory analysis for long-range transport events showed four potential source regions: China (79%), Japan (13%), the Yellow Sea (6%), and Russia (2%). Our results suggest that measured DeltaTGM/DeltaCO can be used to identify long-range transported mercury and to estimate mercury emissions from long-range transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Mi Choi
- Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Seoul National University, Yeongon-dong, Chongro-gu, Seoul 110-799, Republic of Korea
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108
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Rice GE, Senn DB, Shine JP. Relative importance of atmospheric and riverine mercury sources to the northern Gulf of Mexico. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2009; 43:415-422. [PMID: 19238973 DOI: 10.1021/es800682b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
A box model was developed to quantify the major sources and dominant fates of inorganic mercury (Hg) in the Mississippi River-influenced area of the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM). Riverine (75%) and direct atmospheric deposition (25%) deliver 9.7 t Hg y(-1) to this productive fishery; most (80%) accumulates in bottom sediments where it can be methylated and enter foodwebs. Although riverine inputs dominate atmospheric deposition, 75% of the riverine sediment-associated Hg accumulates in only approximately 8% of the study area. Atmospheric deposition can explain most of the Hg accumulating in sediments of the remaining area. Considering the differences in temporal responsiveness of riverine (centuries) and atmospheric (years) Hg inputs to anthropogenic emissions changes, the spatial limits of the riverine Hg source andthe potential dominance of atmospheric deposition over large areas could have implications for the timing of benefits from policies reducing anthropogenic Hg emissions.
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109
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Vijayaraghavan K, Karamchandani P, Seigneur C, Balmori R, Chen SY. Plume-in-grid modeling of atmospheric mercury. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2008jd010580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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110
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Seigneur C, Lohman K. Effect of bromine chemistry on the atmospheric mercury cycle. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2008jd010262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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111
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Peterson C, Gustin M. Mercury in the air, water and biota at the Great Salt Lake (Utah, USA). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2008; 405:255-268. [PMID: 18706677 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.06.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2008] [Revised: 06/18/2008] [Accepted: 06/25/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The Great Salt Lake, Utah (USA), is the fourth largest terminal lake on Earth and a stop-over location for 35 million birds on the Pacific Flyway. Recently, the Utah Department of Health and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources issued tissue mercury (Hg) consumption advisories for several species of birds that consume the lake's brine shrimp. We hypothesized that the chemistry of the atmosphere above the Great Salt Lake would facilitate atmospheric deposition of Hg to the water. Because little information was available on Hg at the Great Salt Lake, and to begin to test this hypothesis, we measured atmospheric elemental (Hg(0)) and reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) concentrations as well as Hg concentrations in water and brine shrimp five times over a ~year. Surrogate surfaces and a dry deposition model were applied to estimate the amount of Hg that could be input to the lake surface, and HYSPLIT model back trajectories were developed to investigate potential sources of RGM to the lake. Atmospheric Hg(0) concentrations were similar to global ambient background values and RGM concentrations were similar to those reported for rural areas. Both Hg(0) and RGM exhibited regular diel variability. Model estimated deposition velocities for RGM to the lake ranged from 0.9 to 3.0 cm s(-1) while that determined for surrogate surfaces ranged from 2.8 to 7.8 cm s(-1). Filtered total and methyl Hg concentrations in Great Salt Lake surface waters were consistent throughout the year (3.6+/-0.8 ng L(-1) and 0.93+/-0.59 ng L(-1), respectively), while brine shrimp concentrations had a statistically significant increase from summer to fall. Data collected and data analyses indicated no direct local or regional source of Hg to the lake and that factors within the Great Salt Lake basin are important in controlling Hg(0) and RGM concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christianna Peterson
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
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112
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Sunderland EM, Cohen MD, Selin NE, Chmura GL. Reconciling models and measurements to assess trends in atmospheric mercury deposition. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2008; 156:526-535. [PMID: 18299164 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2007] [Revised: 12/21/2007] [Accepted: 01/08/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Changes in atmospheric mercury deposition are used to evaluate the effectiveness of regulations controlling emissions. This analysis can be complicated by seemingly incongruent data from different model runs, model types, and field measurements. Here we present a case study example that describes how to identify trends in regional scale mercury deposition using best-available information from multiple data sources. To do this, we use data from three atmospheric chemistry models (CMAQ, GEOS-Chem, HYSPLIT) and multiple sediment archives (ombrotrophic bog, headwater lake, coastal salt marsh) from the Bay of Fundy region in Canada. Combined sediment and modeling data indicate that deposition attributable to US and Canadian emissions has declined in recent years, thereby increasing the relative significance of global sources. We estimate that anthropogenic emissions in the US and Canada account for 28-33% of contemporary atmospheric deposition in this region, with the rest from natural (14-32%) and global sources (41-53%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsie M Sunderland
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of the Science Advisor, Washington, DC, USA.
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113
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Bullock OR, Atkinson D, Braverman T, Civerolo K, Dastoor A, Davignon D, Ku JY, Lohman K, Myers TC, Park RJ, Seigneur C, Selin NE, Sistla G, Vijayaraghavan K. The North American Mercury Model Intercomparison Study (NAMMIS): Study description and model-to-model comparisons. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2008jd009803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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114
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Strode SA, Jaeglé L, Jaffe DA, Swartzendruber PC, Selin NE, Holmes C, Yantosca RM. Trans-Pacific transport of mercury. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2007jd009428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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115
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Dastoor AP, Davignon D, Theys N, Van Roozendael M, Steffen A, Ariya PA. Modeling dynamic exchange of gaseous elemental mercury at polar sunrise. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2008; 42:5183-8. [PMID: 18754367 DOI: 10.1021/es800291w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
At polar sunrise, gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) undergoes an exceptional dynamic exchange in the air and at the snow surface during which GEM can be rapidly removed from the atmosphere (the so-called atmospheric mercury depletion events (AMDEs)) as well as re-emitted from the snow within a few hours to days in the Polar Regions. Although high concentrations of total mercury in snow following AMDEs is well documented, there is very little data available on the redox transformation processes of mercury in the snow and the fluxes of mercury at the air/snow interface. Therefore, the net gain of mercury in the Polar Regions as a result of AMDEs is still an open question. We developed a new version of the global mercury model, GRAHM, which includes for the first time bidirectional surface exchange of GEM in Polar Regions in spring and summer by developing schemes for mercury halogen oxidation, deposition, and re-emission. Also for the first time, GOME satellite data-derived boundary layer concentrations of BrO have been used in a global mercury model for representation of halogen mercury chemistry. Comparison of model simulated and measured atmospheric concentrations of GEM at Alert, Canada, for 3 years (2002-2004) shows the model's capability in simulating the rapid cycling of mercury during and after AMDEs. Brooks et al. (1) measured mercury deposition, reemission, and net surface gain fluxes of mercury at Barrow, AK, during an intensive measurement campaign for a 2 week period in spring (March 25 to April 7, 2003). They reported 1.7, 1.0 +/- 0.2, and 0.7 +/- 0.2 microg m(-2) deposition, re-emission, and net surface gain, respectively. Using the optimal configuration of the model, we estimated 1.8 microg m(-2) deposition, 1.0 microg m(-2) re-emission, and 0.8 microg m(-2) net surface gain of mercury for the same time period at Barrow. The estimated net annual accumulation of mercury within the Arctic Circle north of 66.5 degrees is approximately 174 t with +/-7 t of interannual variability for 2002-2004 using the optimal configuration. We estimated the uncertainty of the model results to the Hg/Br reaction rate coefficient to be approximately 6%. Springtime is clearly demonstrated as the most active period of mercury exchanges and net surface gain (approximately 46% of annual accumulation) in the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashu P Dastoor
- Air Quality Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, 2121 Trans Canada Highway, Dorval, Quebec, Canada H9P 1J3.
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116
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Swartzendruber PC, Chand D, Jaffe DA, Smith J, Reidmiller D, Gratz L, Keeler J, Strode S, Jaeglé L, Talbot R. Vertical distribution of mercury, CO, ozone, and aerosol scattering coefficient in the Pacific Northwest during the spring 2006 INTEX-B campaign. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1029/2007jd009579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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117
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Sillman S, Marsik FJ, Al-Wali KI, Keeler GJ, Landis MS. Reactive mercury in the troposphere: Model formation and results for Florida, the northeastern United States, and the Atlantic Ocean. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006jd008227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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118
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Lamborg
- The author is in the Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
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119
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Radke LF, Friedli HR, Heikes BG. Atmospheric mercury over the NE Pacific during spring 2002: Gradients, residence time, upper troposphere lower stratosphere loss, and long-range transport. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2005jd005828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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120
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Laurier F, Mason R. Mercury concentration and speciation in the coastal and open ocean boundary layer. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006jd007320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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