@article{22218,
  author = {Matthew Macleod and David G Woodfine and Donald Mackay and Thomas E McKone and Deborah H Bennett and Randy L Maddalena},
  title = {BETR North America: A regionally segmented multimedia contaminant fate model for North America},
  abstract = {<p>We present the Berkeley-Trent North American contaminant fate model (BETR North America), a  regionally segmented multimedia contaminant fate model based on the fugacity concept. The model is built  on a framework that links contaminant fate models of individual regions, and is generally applicable to  large, spatially heterogeneous areas. The North American environment is modeled as 24 ecological regions,  within each region contaminant fate is described using a 7 compartment multimedia fugacity model  including a vertically segmented atmosphere, freshwater, freshwater sediment, soil, coastal water and  vegetation compartments. Inter-regional transport of contaminants in the atmosphere, freshwater and  coastal water is described using a database of hydrological and meteorological data compiled with  Geographical Information Systems (GIS) techniques.  Steady-state and dynamic solutions to the 168 mass  balance equations that make up the linked model for North America are discussed, and an illustrative case  study of toxaphene transport from the southern United States to the Great Lakes Basin is presented.  Regionally segmented models such as BETR North America can provide a critical link between evaluative  models of long-range transport potential and contaminant concentrations observed in remote regions. The  continent-scale mass balance calculated by the model provides a sound basis for evaluating long-range  transport potential of organic pollutants, and formulation of continent scale management and regulatory  strategies for chemicals.</p>},
  year = {2001},
  journal = {Environmental Science & Pollution Research},
  volume = {8},
  number = {3},
  pages = {156-163},
  language = {eng},
}