Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
ACP
Articles | Volume 26, issue 2
Articles | Volume 26, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1321-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1321-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 26, issue 2
Research article
 | Highlight paper
 | 
27 Jan 2026
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 27 Jan 2026

Emerging Mineral Dust Source in ’A’ą̈y Chù’ Valley, Yukon, Canada Poses Potential Health Risk via Exposure to Metal and Metalloids Enriched in PM10 and PM2.5 Size Fractions

Arnold R. Downey, Alisée Dourlent, Daniel Bellamy, James King, and Patrick L. Hayes

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1321-2026-supplement

Data sets

Concentrations of Select Metals and Metalloids in Air in ’A’ą̈y Chù’ Valley Mineral Dust Spring/Summer 2021 Arnold Ross Downey https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/Y4CTDC

Diurnal Statistics for Temperature, Relative Humidity, Wind Speed, PM10, and PM2.5 Concentrations at ’A’ą̈y Chù’ Valley in Kluane National Park, Yukon, Canada for June 2021 Arnold Ross Downey https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/1WHR3P

Raw Optical Particle Counter (OPC) Data for 3.3 and 6.3 meters off ground in ’A’ą̈y Chù’ Valley in Yukon, Canada Late Spring Early Summer 2021 Arnold Ross Downey https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/FKSRWL

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Executive editor
Atmospheric dust is changing in response to human impacts on climate and hydrology. This paper investigates airborne dust originating from sediments associated with a retreating glacier in Canada, and finds a composition enriched in various metals and metaloids. While the primary focus of this paper is on local health impacts, there may also be wider implications for aerosol-cloud interactions and biogeochemical cycles, should this phenomenon prove to be widespread in response to climate change.
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Short summary
Glacial sediment of the ’A’ą̈y Chù’ Valley in Yukon, Canada is exposed to strong winds, and consequently, has become a significant mineral dust source. Mineral dust is known to have an impact on human health, partly due to various metals it contains, with the size of the particles also being an important factor. The goal of this study was to determine the concentration of various metals in the dust, how this relates to dust size, and whether air quality standards were surpassed.
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