Evidence for the “grasshopper” effect and fractionation during long-range atmospheric transport of organic contaminants

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 128; no. 1; pp. 139 - 148
• Main Authors: Gouin, T., Mackay, D., Jones, K.C., Harner, T., Meijer, S.N.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Air Movements; Air Pollutants - chemistry; Air Pollution; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Chemical Fractionation; Environmental Monitoring - statistics & numerical data; Exact sciences and technology; Global fractionation; Hexachlorobenzene - chemistry; Long-range atmospheric transport; Models, Theoretical; Monte Carlo Method; Organic Chemicals - chemistry; Persistent organic pollutants; Pollutants physicochemistry study: properties, effects, reactions, transport and distribution; Pollution; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - chemistry; “Grasshopper” effect; Model; “Grasshopper” effect; Global fractionation; Persistent organic pollutants; Long-range atmospheric transport; Monte Carlo method; Fractionation; Pollutant behavior; Troposphere; Modeling; Mechanism; Hopping conduction; Transport process; Persistent organic pollutant; Grasshopper effect; Long range pollutant transport; Air pollution; Numerical simulation; Phase partition; Speciation
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2003.08.025
• ISSN: 0269-7491

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. Evidence for global scale fractionation and hopping of POPs is reviewed.