Biological Processes Found to Play Key Role in Atmospheric Arsenic Distribution
New research reveals that living organisms significantly influence the global arsenic cycle, challenging previous assumptions about human activity as the primary source.
- Researchers at ETH Zurich identified biological processes as a major factor in the atmospheric distribution of arsenic, previously thought to be dominated by human activities.
- Using advanced measurement techniques, the team analyzed arsenic in clouds, rainwater, and particulate matter at the Pic du Midi observatory in the Pyrenees, located 2,877 meters above sea level.
- The study found that methylated arsenic compounds, produced by organisms like bacteria, algae, and fungi, accounted for a significant portion of arsenic in some cloud samples.
- The findings indicate that arsenic undergoes transformations both on land and in the sea, with natural sources like plants and pollen contributing alongside industrial pollution.
- These results highlight the need to incorporate biological processes into global models of arsenic cycling to better understand its environmental and health impacts.
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