Abstract
A methodology and mathematical formulation are presented for development of the global geochemical cycles of trace metals. Global cycling models of As, Se, and Hg are discussed in detail and used to assess the impact of the activities of society on these element cycles. These models show that anthropogenic activities may have increased the global concentrations of these elements in rain, seawater, and perhaps in river water. Model calculations suggest that increased concentrations of these elements in the world's surface ocean by the year 2000 will be small. A two-reservoir, cycling model of trace metals in atmospheric particulates is developed and used to assess the sources of element enrichments in these particulates. The model enables prediction of trace metal enrichment factors in atmospheric particulates, where enrichment factor is defined as the metal/Al ratio in atmospheric particulates divided by the metal/Al ratio in soils. Correspondence between predicted and observed enrichment factors suggests that for some trace metals, their enrichments in atmospheric particulates are caused, at least in part, by the industrial and fossil fuel burning activities of society. Model calculations further show that cessation of these activities would result in a return of present-day or future enrichment factors to preindustrial values in less than one year.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abu-Erreish, G. M., Whitehead, E. I., and Olson, O. E., 1968, Evolution of volatile selenium from soils: Soil Science, v. 106, p. 415–420.
Andren, A. W., Klein, D. H., and Talmi, Y., 1975, Selenium in coal—fired steam plant emissions: Environ. Sci. Technol., v. 9, p. 856–858.
Arsenic, 1977, Natl. Acad. Sci., Washington, D. C., 332 p.
Beauford, W., Barber, J., and Barringer, A. R., 1975, Heavy metal release from plants into the atmosphere: Nature, v. 256, p. 35–37.
Beauford, W., Barber, J., and Barringer, A. R., 1977, Release of particles containing metals from vegetation into the atmosphere: Science, v. 195, p. 571–573.
Bertine, K. K. and Goldberg, E. D., 1971, Fossil fuel combustion and the major sedimentary cycle: Science, v. 173, p. 233–235.
Bolton, N. E., Carter, J. A., Emery, J. F., Feldman, C., Fulkerson, W., Hulett, L. D., and Lyon, W. S., 1975, Trace element mass balance around a coal-fired steam plant,in Babu, S. P. (Ed.), Trace elements in fuel: Adv. Chem. Ser. 141, ACS, Washington, D. C., p. 175–187.
Bowen, H. J. M., 1966, Trace elements in biochemistry, Academic Press, London, 241 p.
Braman, R. S. and Foreback, C. C., 1973, Methylated forms of arsenic in the environment: Science, v. 182, p. 1247–1249.
Braman, R. S., 1975, Arsenic in the environment,in Woolson, E. A. (Ed.), Arsenical pesticides: ACS Symposium Series 7, Washington, D. C., p. 108–123.
Broecker, W. S., 1963, Radioisotopes and large-scale oceanic mixing,in Hill, M. N. (Ed.), The Sea, vol. 2: Wiley-Interscience, New York, p. 88–108.
Broecker, W. S., 1971, A kinetic model for the chemical composition of sea water: Quaternary Res., v. 1, p. 188–207.
Broecker, W. S., 1974, Chemical oceanography: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., New York, 214 p.
Broecker, W. S., Li, Y., and Peng, T., 1971, Carbon dioxide—man's unseen artifact,in Hood, D., (Ed.), Impingement of man on the oceans: Wiley-Interscience, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, p. 287–324.
Cadle, R., 1975, Volcanic emissions of halides and sulfur compounds to the troposphere and stratosphere: J. Geophys. Res., v. 80, p. 1650–1652.
Chau, Y. K., Wong, P. T. S., Silverberg, B. A., Luxon, P. L., and Bengert, G. A., 1976, Methylation of selenium in the aquatic environment: Science, v. 192, p. 1130–1131.
Chester, R. and Stoner, J. H., 1974, The distribution of Mn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Co, Ga, Cr, V, Ba, Sr, Sn, Zn, and Pb in some soil-sized particulates from the lower troposphere over the world ocean: Mar. Chem., v. 2, p. 157–188.
Coakley, G. J., 1975, Selenium,in Knoerr, A. W. (Ed.), Mineral facts and problems: U.S. Bur. of Mines Bull. 667, p. 955–961.
Cox, D. P., 1975, Microbiological methylation of arsenic,in Woolson, E. A. (Ed.), Arsenical pesticides: ACS Symposium Series 7, Washington, D. C., p. 81–96.
Craig, H., 1957, The natural distribution of radiocarbon and the exchange time of carbon dioxide between atmosphere and sea: Tellus, v. 9, p. 1–17.
Crecelius, E. P., 1975, The geochemical cycle of arsenic in Lake Washington and its relation to other elements: Limnol. Oceanog., v. 20, p. 441–451.
Dams, R., Heindryckz, R., and Van Cauwenberghe, K., 1973, Scheikunde en analyse van luchtpollutie, Deel III, Appendices: Ind. Chim. Belg., v. 38, p. 627–648.
Dams, R. and DeJonge, J., 1976, Chemical composition of Swiss aerosols from the Jungfraujoch: Atmos. Environ., v. 10, p. 1079–1084.
Davison, R. L., Natusch, D. F. S., Wallace, J. R., and Evans, C. A., Jr., 1974, Trace elements in fly ash. Dependence of concentration on particle size: Environ. Sci. Technol., v. 8, p. 1107–1113.
Deevey, E. S., Jr., 1970, Mineral cycles: Sci. Amer., v. 223, p. 149–158.
D'Itri, F. M. (Ed.), 1978, An assessment of mercury in the environment, Natl. Acad. Sci., Washington, D. C., 185 p.
Doran, J. W. and Alexander, M., 1976, Microbial formation of volatile selenium compounds in soil: Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Jour., v. 40, p. 687–690.
Duce, R. A., Hoffman, G. L., and Zoller, W. H., 1975, Atmospheric trace metals at remote northern and southern hemispheric sites: Pollution or natural?: Science, v. 187, p. 59–61.
Duce, R. A., Hoffman, G. L., Ray, B. J., Fletcher, I. S., Walsh, P. R., Fasching, J. L., Piotrowicz, S. R., Hoffman, E. J., Miller, J. M., and Heffter, J. L., 1976a, Trace metals in the marine atmosphere: Sources and fluxes,in Windom, H., and Duce, R. (Eds.), Marine pollutant transfer: D. C. Heath and Co., Lexington, Massachusetts, p. 77–120.
Duce, R. A., Ray, B. J., Hoffman, G. L., and Walsh, P. R., 1976b, Trace metal concentration as a function of particle size in marine aerosols from Bermuda: Geophys. Res. Lett., v. 3, p. 339–342.
Eriksson, E., 1971, Compartment models and reservoir theory: Ann. Rev. Ecology Systematics, v. 2, p. 67–84.
Ferguson, J. F. and Gavis, J., 1972, A review of the arsenic cycle in natural waters: Water Res., v. 6, p. 1259–1274.
Garrels, R. M. and Mackenzie, F. T., 1971, Evolution of sedimentary rocks: W. W. Norton and Co., Inc., New York, 397 p.
Garrels, R. M. and Mackenzie, F. T., 1972, A quantitative model for the sedimentary rock cycle: Mar. Chem., v. 1, p. 27–41.
Garrels, R. M., Mackenzie, F. T., and Hunt, C., 1973, Chemical cycles and the global environment: Assessing human influences: William Kaufmann, Inc., Los Angeles, California, 206 p.
Goldberg, E. D., 1971, Atmospheric dust, the sedimentary cycle, and man: Geophysics, v. 1, p. 117–132.
Goldberg, E. D., 1976, Rock volatility and aerosol composition: Nature, v. 260, p. 128–129.
Greenspoon, G., 1970, Mercury,in Mineral facts and problems: U.S. Bur. Mines Bull. 650, p. 639–652.
Hartley, W. J. and Grant, A. B., 1961, A review of selenium responsive diseases of New Zealand livestock: Fed. Proc., v. 20, pt. 1, p. 679–688.
Harvey, S. C., 1970, Heavy metals,in Goodman, L. S. and Gilman, A. (Eds.), The pharmacological basis of therapeutics, 4th ed.: Macmillan and Co., New York, p. 958–986.
Hashimoto, Y. and Winchester, J. W., 1967, Selenium in the atmosphere: Environ. Sci. Technol., v. 1, p. 338–340.
Heath, G. R., 1974, Dissolved silica and deep-sea sediments,in Hay W. W. (Ed.), Studies in paleo-oceanography: Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineral. Spec. Pub. 20, Tulsa, Oklahoma, p. 77–93.
Holeman, J. N., 1968, The sediment yield of major rivers of the world: Water Res. Res., v. 4, p. 737–747.
Howard, J. H., III, 1977, Geochemistry of selenium: Formation of ferroselite and selenium behavior in the vicinity of oxidizing sulfide and uranium deposits: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v. 41, p. 1665–1678.
Johnson, D. L., 1972, Bacterial reduction of arsenate in sea water: Nature, v. 240, p. 44–45.
Johnson, D. L. and Braman, R. S., 1974, Distribution of atmospheric mercury species near ground: Environ. Sci. Technol., v. 8, p. 1003–1009.
Judson, S., 1968, Erosion of the land: Am. Scientist, v. 56, p. 356–374.
Kanamori, S. and Sugawara, K., 1965, Geochemical study of arsenic in natural waters. I. Arsenic in rain and snow: J. Earth Sci., Nagoya Univ., v. 13, p. 23–35.
Kharkar, D. P., Turekian, K. K., and Bertine, K. K., 1968, Stream supply of dissolved silver, molybdenum, antimony, selenium, chromium, cobalt, rubidium, and cesium to the oceans: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v. 32, p. 285–298.
Klein, D. H., Andren, A. W., Carter, J. A., Emery, J. F., Feldman, C., Fulkerson, W., Lyon, W. S., Ogle, J. C., Talmi, Y., Van Hook, R. I., and Bolton, N., 1975, Pathways of thirty-seven trace elements through a coal-fired power plant: Environ. Sci. Technol., v. 9, p. 973–979.
Krauskopf, K. B., 1967, Introduction to geochemistry, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 721 p.
Kothny, E. L., 1973, The three-phase equilibrium of mercury in nature,in Kothny, E. L. (Ed.), Trace elements in the environment: Adv. Chem. Ser. 123, ACS, Washington, D. C., p. 48–80.
Kuznets, S., 1971, Economic growth of nations: Total output and production structure: Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 363 p.
Lakin, H. W., 1972, Selenium accumulation in soils and its absorption by plants and animals: Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v. 83, p. 181–190.
Lakin, H. W., 1973, Selenium in our environment,in Kothny, E. L. (Ed.), Trace elements in the environment: Adv. Chem. Ser. 123, ACS, Washington, D. C., p. 96–111.
Lal, D. and Peters, B., 1967, Cosmic ray produced radioactivity on the earth,in Flügge, S. (Ed.), Handbuch der physik, v. 46: Springer-Verlag, Berlin, p. 551–612.
Lantzy, R. J., 1978, The cycling behavior of trace metals: Ph.D. thesis, Northwestern University.
Lantzy, R. J. and Mackenzie, F. T., in press, Atmospheric trace metals: Global cycles and assessment of man's impact: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta.
Lerman, A., Mackenzie, F. T., and Garrels, R. M., 1975, Modeling of geochemical cycles: Phosphorus as an example,in Whitten, E. H. T. (Ed.), Quantitative studies in the geological sciences: Geol. Soc. Amer. Mem. 142, p. 205–218.
Lisitzin, A. P., 1972, Sedimentation in the world's oceans: Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineral., Spec. Publ. 17, 218 p.
Lunde, G., 1970, Analysis of arsenic and selenium in marine raw materials: J. Sci. Fd. Agric., v. 21, p. 242–247.
Machta, L., 1972, The role of the oceans and biosphere in the carbon dioxide cycle,in Pyrssen, D. and Jagner, D. (Eds.), The changing chemistry of the oceans, Almqvist and Wiksell, Stockholm, p. 121–145.
Mackenzie, F. T. and Wollast, R., 1977, Sedimentary cycling models of global processes,in Goldberg, E. D. (Ed.), The Sea, v. 5: Wiley-Interscience, New York, p. 739–785.
McBride, B. C. and Wolfe, R. S., 1971, Biosynthesis of dimethylarsine by methano-bacterium: Biochemistry, v. 10, p. 4312–4317.
Menzel, D. W., 1974, Primary productivity, dissolved and particulate organic matter, and the sites of oxidation of organic matter,in Goldberg, E. D. (Ed.), The sea, vol. 5: Wiley-Interscience, New York, p. 659–678.
Meybeck, M., 1976, Total mineral dissolved transport by world major rivers: Bull. Sci. Hydrologiques, v. 21, p. 265–284.
Milliman, J. D., 1974, Marine carbonates: Springer-Verlag, New York, 375 p.
1973 Minerals Yearbook, vol. 1, Metals, Minerals, and Fuels, 1975: U.S. Dept. Interior, Bureau of Mines, 1383 p.
1974 Minerals Yearbook, vol. 1, Metals, Minerals, and Fuels, 1976: U.S. Dept. Interior, Bureau of Mines, 1451 p.
Morgan, R. E. and Weinberg, R., 1972, Computer simulation of world systems: Biogeochemical cycles: Internat. Jour. Environm. Studies, v. 3, p. 103–118.
Natusch, D. F. S., Wallace, J. R., and Evans, C. A., Jr., 1974, Toxic trace elements: Preferential concentration in respirable particles: Science, v. 183, p. 202–204.
Newell, R. E., Vincent, D. G., and Kidson, J. W., 1969, Interhemispheric mass exchange from meteorological and trace substance observations: Tellus, v. 21, p. 641–647.
Oana, S., 1962, Volcanic gases and sublimates from Showashinzan: Bull. Volcanol., v. 24, p. 49–58.
Paone, J., 1970, Arsenic: Bureau Mines Bull. v. 650, 479–487.
Penrose, W. R., 1974, Arsenic in the marine and aquatic environments: Analysis, occurrence, and significance: CRC Critical Reviews in Environ. Control, v. 4, p. 465–482.
Pilson, M. E. Q., 1974, Arsenate uptake and reduction byPacillopora verrucosa: Limnol. Oceanog., v. 19, p. 339–341.
Piperno, E., 1975, Trace element emissions: Aspects of environmental toxicology,in Babu, S. P. (Ed.), Trace elements in fuel: Adv. Chem. Ser. 141, ACS, Washington, D. C., p. 192–209.
Pytkowicz, R. M., 1971, The chemical stability of the oceans: Oregon State Univ. Dept. Oceanography Tech. Rept. 214, ref. 71–20, 24 p.
Pytkowicz, R. M., 1973, The carbon dioxide system in the oceans: Swiss J. Hydrol., v. 35, p. 8–28.
Redfield, A. C., Ketchum, B. H., and Richards, F. A., 1963, The influence of organisms on the composition of sea water,in Hill, M. N. (Ed.), The sea, vol. 2: Wiley-Interscience, New York, p. 26–77.
Ridley, W. P., Dizikes, L. J., and Wood, J. M., 1977, Biomethylation of toxic elements in the environment: Science, v. 197, p. 329–332.
Robinson, E. and Robbins, R. C., 1971, Emissions, concentrations and fate of particulate atmospheric pollutants: Amer. Petrol. Instit. Publ. #4076, Menlo Park, California, 123 p.
Rosenfeld, I. and Beath, O., A., 1964, Selenium, geobotany, biochemistry, toxicity, and nutrition: Academic Press, New York, 411 p.
Sandholm, M., Oksanen, H. E., and Pesonen, L., 1973, Uptake of selenium by aquatic organisms: Limnol. Oceanogr., v. 18, p. 496–499.
Sondegaard, E., 1967, Selenium and vitamin E relationships, in Muth, O. H., Oldfield, J. E., and Weswig, P. H. (Eds.), Symposium: Selenium in biomedicine: AVI Publishing Co., Westport, Connecticut, p. 365–381.
Stumm, W. (Ed.), 1977, Global chemical cycles and their alteration by man: Report of the Dahlem Workshop on Global Chemical Cycles and Their Alteration by Man, Berlin, 1976: Abakon Verlagsgessellschaft (in Komm.), Berlin, 347 p.
Suzuoki, T., 1964, A geochemical study of selenium in volcanic exhalation and sulfur deposits: Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan, v. 37, p. 1200–1206.
Svensson, B. H. and Söderlund, R. (Eds.), 1976, Nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur—global cycles: SCOPE Rept. 7, Ecol. Bull. (Stockholm), 192 p.
Turekian, K. K., 1969, The oceans, streams, and atmosphere,in Wedepohl, K. H. (Ed.), Handbook of geochemistry, vol. 1: Springer-Verlag, New York, p. 297–323.
Vinogradov, A. P., 1959, The geochemistry of rare and dispersed chemical elements in soils: Consultants Bureau, Inc., New York, 209 p.
Walsh, P. R., Duce, R. A., and Fasching, J. L., 1977, Impregnated filter sampling system for collection of volatile arsenic in the atmosphere: Environ. Sci. Technol., v. 11, p. 163–166.
Wedepohl, K. H. (Ed.), 1969, Handbook of geochemistry, vol. II-1: Springer-Verlag, New York.
Wedepohl, K. H. (Ed.), 1970, Handbook of geochemistry, vol. II-2: Springer-Verlag, New York.
Wedepohl, K. H. (Ed.), 1972, Handbook of geochemistry, vol. II-3: Springer-Verlag, New York.
Wedepohl, K. H. (Ed.), 1974, Handbook of geochemistry, vol. II-4: Springer-Verlag, New York.
Weiss, H. V., Koide, M., and Goldberg, E. D., 1971, Selenium and sulfur in a Greenland ice sheet: Relation to fossil fuel combustion: Science, v. 172, p. 261–263.
Whittaker, R. H. and Likens, G. E., 1973, Carbon in the biota,in Woodwell, G. M. and Pecan, E. V. (Eds.), Carbon in the biosphere: AEC Symposium Series 30, National Tech. Information Service, Springfield, Va., p. 281–302.
Wolery, T. J. and Sleep, N. H., 1976, Hydrothermal circulation and geochemical flux at midocean ridges: Jour. Geol., v. 84, p. 249–275.
Wollast, R., 1974, The silica problem:in The sea, v. 5, E. D. Goldberg, (Ed.), Wiley-Interscience, New York, 359–392.
Wollast, R., Billen, G., and Mackenzie, F. T., 1976, Behavior of mercury in natural systems and its global cycle,in McIntyre, A. D., and Mills, C. F. (Eds.), Ecological toxicology research: Plenum Press, New York, p. 145–166.
Woodwell, G. M., Craig, P. P., and Johnson, H. A., 1971, DDT in the biosphere: Where does it go?: Science, v. 174, p. 1101–1107.
Wood, J. M., 1974, Biological cycles for toxic elements in the environment: Science, v. 183, p. 1049–1052.
Woolson, E. A., 1975, Bioaccumulation of arsenicals,in Woolson, E. A. (Ed.), Arsenical pesticides: ACS Symposium Series 7, Washington, D. C., p. 97–107.
Zoller, W. H., Gladney, E. S., and Duce, R. A., 1974, Atmospheric concentrations and sources of trace metals at the South Pole: Science, v. 183, p. 199–201.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mackenzie, F.T., Lantzy, R.J. & Paterson, V. Global trace metal cycles and predictions. Mathematical Geology 11, 99–142 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01028961
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01028961