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INL researchers are contributing to the scientific understanding of contaminant transport through atmospheric and surface environmental pathways.

Atmospheric and surface pathways account for the vast majority of human and ecological exposure to anthropogenic (man-made) releases of contaminants to the environment. Exposure routes range from direct inhalation to direct contact with residual contamination that has built up or been deposited on soils.

A better understanding of how contaminants cycle through these exposure pathways will help decision-makers to select and permit waste treatment operations and help stakeholders better understand the relative impacts of contamination sources. Understanding contaminant cycling patterns will also reduce statistical uncertainties in current exposure estimates and risk assessment methods; and provide a scientific basis for developing and evaluating national emissions control regulations.

INL’s research is providing information for effective long-term stewardship of the environment by assessing the contribution and buildup of past and current atmospheric emissions to long-term public exposures and future land use. In addition, this research is helping to expand the INL’s capabilities to support national-level research priorities in the field of environmental pollutant fate and transport.

Major Research Projects

• Mercury Environmental Fate and Transport - The INL and other research laboratories across the nation are conducting fundamental research on quantifying atmospheric mercury sources and environmental cycling to better understand why observed concentrations of this highly toxic air pollutant have been increasing globally.
• Multi-variate receptor methods to assess atmospheric transport of air pollutants - Researchers have characterized regional fallout of over 40 trace element and common-ion air pollutant constituents and are developing new methods to assess medium-range transport of air pollutants from source areas. Current methods (air dispersion modeling and traditional uni-variate measurement methods) have high levels of uncertainty or cannot distinguish pollutant contributions from different sources or the background component.

Research Assets and Capabilities

• The INL is located in a relatively low background area for mercury, and has had two well-documented mercury sources in the past, making this location an ideal setting to study mercury source-receptor relationships. Also, the INL is located next door to potentially large natural emission sources of mercury in the Yellowstone geothermal region, an area that has received little attention by the mercury research community.
• INL researchers have field deployed a state-of-the-science Tekran mercury analyzer to provide continuous ultra-low measurements of mercury air concentrations. The system includes a portable meteorological station, which provides important information on the sources of mercury, and a self-contained field trailer that allows deployment of the system to any vehicle accessible locations. For more information on the Tekran system, read the INL EM Technology Catalog entry for Tekran Mercury Vapor Analyzer.
• Researchers are also developing a flux measurement system using a dynamic flux chamber and the Tekran to measure re-emission of deposited mercury from the surface back to the atmosphere. When fully developed, the flux system may be used in research to help quantify non-assessed sources of mercury such as the Yellowstone geothermal areas.

Opportunities

INL welcomes the opportunity to participate in collaborative atmospheric and surface science research with scientists from universities, industry, and federal agencies. Post-doctoral fellowships and staff positions are also possible in the area of atmospheric chemistry, air pollutant measurement techniques, and environmental cycling of contaminants through surface pathways.