Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Evidence for the ‘grasshopper’ effect and fractionation during long-range atmospheric transport of organic contaminants.
AU - Gouin, T.
AU - Mackay, D.
AU - Jones, Kevin C.
AU - Harner, T.
AU - Meijer, Sandra N.
PY - 2004/3
Y1 - 2004/3
N2 - Although there is indisputable evidence that long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) of organic contaminants occurs on a global scale, uncertainties remain about the detailed mechanism and extent of this phenomenon as well as the physical–chemical properties which facilitate LRAT. In this study, we discuss how mass balance models and monitoring data can contribute to a fuller understanding of the mechanism and extent of LRAT. Specifically we address the issues of “grasshopping” or “hopping” (the extent to which molecules are subject to multiple hops as distinct from a single emission-deposition event) and “global fractionation” (the differing behavior of chemicals as they are transported). It is shown that simple mass balance models can be used to assist the interpretation of monitoring data while also providing an instrument that can be used to assess the LRAT potential and the extent of hopping that organic substances may experience. The available evidence supports the notion that many persistent organic pollutants experience varying degrees of “hopping” during their environmental journey and as a consequence become fractionated with distance from source.
AB - Although there is indisputable evidence that long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) of organic contaminants occurs on a global scale, uncertainties remain about the detailed mechanism and extent of this phenomenon as well as the physical–chemical properties which facilitate LRAT. In this study, we discuss how mass balance models and monitoring data can contribute to a fuller understanding of the mechanism and extent of LRAT. Specifically we address the issues of “grasshopping” or “hopping” (the extent to which molecules are subject to multiple hops as distinct from a single emission-deposition event) and “global fractionation” (the differing behavior of chemicals as they are transported). It is shown that simple mass balance models can be used to assist the interpretation of monitoring data while also providing an instrument that can be used to assess the LRAT potential and the extent of hopping that organic substances may experience. The available evidence supports the notion that many persistent organic pollutants experience varying degrees of “hopping” during their environmental journey and as a consequence become fractionated with distance from source.
KW - Long-range atmospheric transport
KW - “Grasshopper” effect
KW - Global fractionation
KW - Persistent organic pollutants
KW - Model
U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2003.08.025
DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2003.08.025
M3 - Journal article
VL - 128
SP - 139
EP - 148
JO - Environmental Pollution
JF - Environmental Pollution
SN - 0269-7491
IS - 1-2
ER -