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.
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.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
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27 Jan 2026
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 27 Jan 2026
| 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
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, H2V0B3, Canada
Alisée Dourlent
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, H2V0B3, Canada
Departement de la chimie, Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Université de Sorbonne, Sorbonne, 75005, France
Daniel Bellamy
Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, H2V0B3, Canada
James King
Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, H2V0B3, Canada
Patrick L. Hayes
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, H2V0B3, Canada
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Phillipe Gauvin-Bourdon, James King, and Liliana Perez
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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.
Atmospheric dust is changing in response to human impacts on climate and hydrology. This paper...
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.
Glacial sediment of the ’A’ą̈y Chù’ Valley in Yukon, Canada is exposed to strong winds, and...
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