1
|
Fan Y, Xu H, Hou X, Zhou W, Zhang L, Chen N. Isotopic Evidence Unveils Fossil Fuels Contribution to Atmospheric Iodine. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:20773-20780. [PMID: 37906162 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Iodine is a crucial nutrient for public health, and its presence in the terrestrial atmosphere is a key factor in determining the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders. While oceanic iodine emissions decrease at lower sea surface temperatures, the primary contributors to atmospheric iodine can vary from oceanic sources in the summer to other sources in winter. However, the specific sources and their respective contributions have remained unexplored. Fortunately, the atomic ratio of 129I to 127I significantly differs between nuclear activity and fossil fuels like coal and petroleum, which formed millions to billions of years ago. This distinction makes 129I a valuable tool for identifying iodine sources. In our study, we analyzed iodine isotopes and incorporated additional indicators such as element content in PM2.5 samples. Our findings reveal, for the first time, that in winter inland areas, fuel oil, alongside coal combustion, is a significant source of atmospheric iodine. This research enhances our comprehension of the impact of human activities on iodine levels in the environment. This understanding is crucial not only for addressing iodine deficiency-related health concerns but also for comprehending stratospheric ozone depletion, a phenomenon closely associated with atmospheric iodine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yukun Fan
- Xi'an AMS Center, State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AMS Technology and Application, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Hongmei Xu
- Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Xi'an AMS Center, State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AMS Technology and Application, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Weijian Zhou
- Xi'an AMS Center, State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AMS Technology and Application, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, Xi'an 710061, China
- Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Xi'an Institute for Innovative Earth Environment Research, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Luyuan Zhang
- Xi'an AMS Center, State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AMS Technology and Application, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Ning Chen
- Xi'an AMS Center, State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of AMS Technology and Application, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, Xi'an 710061, China
| |
Collapse
|