Atmospheric deposition of beryllium in Central Europe: Comparison of soluble and insoluble fractions in rime and snow across a pollution gradient

Little is known about atmospheric input of beryllium (Be) into ecosystems, despite its highly toxic behavior. For 35 three consecutive winters (2009–2011), we measured Be concentrations in horizontal deposition (rime) and 36 vertical deposition (snow) at 10 remotemountain-top locations in the Czech Republic, Central Europe. Beryllium 37 was determined both in filtered waters, and in HF digests of insoluble particles. Across the sites, soluble Be 38 concentrations in rime were 7 times higher, compared to snow (6.1 vs. 0.9 ng·L 39 −1). Rime scavenged the pollution-rich lower segments of clouds. The lowest Be concentrations were detected in the soluble fraction of 40 snow. Across the sites, 34% of total Be deposition occurred in the form of soluble (bioavailable) Be, the rest 41 were insoluble particles. Beryllium fluxes decreased in the order: vertical dry deposition insoluble>vertical 42 dry deposition soluble>horizontal deposition soluble>vertical wet deposition insoluble>vertical wet deposi- 43 tion soluble>horizontal deposition insoluble. The average contributions of these Be forms to total deposition 44 were 56, 21, 8, 7, 5 and 3%, respectively. Sites in the northeastweremore Be-polluted than the rest of the country 45 with sources of pollution in industrial Silesia.JRC.E.5-Nuclear chemistr