National‐Scale Assessment of Total Gaseous Mercury Isotopes Across the United States

Tate, Michael T.; Janssen, Sarah E.; Lepak, Ryan F.; Flucke, Laura; Krabbenhoft, David P.

doi:10.1029/2022JD038276

Title: National‐Scale Assessment of Total Gaseous Mercury Isotopes Across the United States

Journal Article · 20 April 2023 · Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD038276 · OSTI ID:1970799

Tate, Michael T. ^[1];

^[1]; Lepak, Ryan F. ^[2]; Flucke, Laura ^[3];

^[1]

Upper Midwest Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Madison WI USA
Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development Duluth MN USA
Upper Midwest Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Madison WI USA, University of Wisconsin, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Madison WI USA

Abstract With the 2011 promulgation of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the successful negotiation by the United Nations Environment Program of the Minamata Convention, emissions of mercury (Hg) have declined in the United States. While the declines in atmospheric Hg concentrations in North America are encouraging, linking the declines to changing domestic and global source portfolios remains challenging. To address these research gaps, the U.S. Geological Survey initiated the first national‐scale effort to establish a baseline of total gaseous mercury stable isotope values at 31 sites distributed across the United States. Results indicated that unique Hg sources, such as Hg evasion from an elemental Hg contaminated site or free tropospheric intrusions in high altitude sites, were distinguishable from background atmospheric values. Minor gradients were observed across the nation, with regions of heavy industrial activity demonstrating lower δ ²⁰² Hg, but no consistent changes in other isotopes such as Δ ¹⁹⁹ Hg and Δ ²⁰⁰ Hg were observed. Furthermore, δ ²⁰² Hg was impacted by foliar uptake and senescence but trends varied between forested regions in the northeastern and midwestern United States. These data demonstrate regional emission sources and other environmental variables can impact total gaseous Hg (TGM) isotope values, highlighting the need to characterize atmospheric Hg isotopes over larger geographical areas to evaluate changes related to national and international Hg regulations.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

OSTI ID:: 1970799

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1971695

Journal Information:: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Vol. 128 Journal Issue: 8; ISSN 2169-897X

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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