effects and effects on particle momentum under these conditions (Droppo,
1976). An additional factor affecting particle deposition includes
convective currents established by heat and water

fluxes originating at

foliar surfaces,
This would again lead to a necessary modification of
predictive models for the deposition process.

Under aerodynamically controlled conditions, however, measured deposition
rates on plant leaves agree closely with the values predicted theoretically from measured aerosol parameters (Craig et al., 1976), suggesting
that either aerodynamic perturbations under field conditions or subsequent
retention characteristics are the primary variables of concern.
As regards
retention, areas requiring attention include particle bounce and resuspension from the foliar surface as a function of absolute particle size and
entrapment of particles at the surface.
Although there is little information on this problem, the microtopegraphy of the leaf surface (roughness)
and its chemical characteristics with respect to wetness, stickiness and
charge (Holloway, 1971) must have a profound effect on the efficiency of
retention at the time of impaction,
These effects may be more closely
related to other physicochemical properties of the particle than to its
simple solution solubility.
THE PROBLEM OF RETENTION OF PARTICULATES ON FOLIAR SURFACES
The retention of particles on foliar surfaces is dependent on many parameters associated with the foliar surface and physical aspects of the
particle itself.
Leaf factors which can affect the efficiency of particle
entrapment include components of the leaf which affect roughness (Holloway,
1971), namely, venation, surface features of epidermal cells, nature of
the cuticle surface, nature and frequency of trichomes and the microstructure of surface wax.
Each of the microtopographical features of the
leaf may contribute to the entrainment and retention of particulates.
Other factors affecting retention include surface stickiness (presence of
organic and inorganic secretion), leaf wetness and charge attraction
between particulate and surface waxes and components.
In addition,
retention is very dependent on particle size, particle density, wind speed
within the boundary layer, and solubility when considering a particular

element comprising a particle,

Available information on foliar retention is sometimes disconcerting and
contradictory when trying to reconcile the retention and behavior of
relatively insoluble particulates with early fallout data on soluble or
volatile fiassion products.
Early fallout work, with respect to fission
products, has been reviewed by Chamberlain (1970) and Russell (1965).
In
general, these reviews indicate a retention half-time For soluble fission
products of 10-14 days, with losses resulting from reentrainment of
carrier particles and sloughing of surface wax (Moorby and Squire, 1963),
and loss through rainfall (Middleton, 1959).
Except for radioiodine
(Markee, 1971), such a short retention halftime is probably characteristic
only of large aerosol particles, as illustrated below.
Several studies have approached the problem of particulate retention using
a simulated quartz fallout containing adsorbed fission products.

Witherspoon and TayLor (1969) found that 88-177 um diameter ump) 1 parti-~
cles were more effectively entrained by pine foliage than oak over a 33day period. Although wind resuspension accounted for a 90% reduction in
number of particulates

in oak leaves after only one hour,

as compared with

a 10% reduction in pine, the first rainfall (t_ + 1 day) accounted for a
15% reduction of particle activity remaining at one hour. A similar study
by Witherspoon and Taylor (1970) presented data for the retention of 4488 and 88-175 ym (MMD)1 particles by various agricultural plants.
These
studies indicate that average wind speeds of 0.5 mph over the initial 12hour period following contamination are more effective in removal of
smaller particles, while average wind speeds of 1.1 mph over a 12-36
hour period resulted in a higher loss of larger particles.
Subsequent to
ty + 6 days, varying amounts of rainfall occurred; these resulted in a
marked reduction in retention for both particle size ranges. The resuspension behavior of these particles is in keeping with theoretical and
empirical measurements on the inertial forces within the boundary layer
required to resuspend spores (Aylor, 1975, 1976; and Aylor and Parlange,
1975).
Subsequent studies of Witherspoon and Taylor (1971) with 1-44 um
(MMD)! simulated fallout particles reported longer weathering half-lives
for 1-44 ym particles than those reported earlier with 44-88 and 88-175 um
particles. Loss rates were also less affected by time or rainfall after a
residence time of seven days.
This would suggest that particle size does
in fact play an important role in the extent of foliar retention.
Although these studies aid in our understanding of the interception and
retention of larger particles, analogous to close in fallout, questions
arise as to the behavior of submicron fallout particles.
Both Iranzo
(1968) and Romney ef al. (1975) have reported that Pu-containing material
resuspended in contaminated field situationa is difficult to remove from
contaminated foliage with as much as 50% being tenaciously held on foliar
surfaces.
This would suggest that there are factors affecting retention
other than the passive association of particles with relatively flat
foliar surfaces with only inertial forces influencing their removal or
resuspension as with larger particles (> 10 um).
Wedding et al. (1975) have shown that deposition of 6.77 + 0.02 ym (AMAD)
uranium particles is related to surface leaf roughness.
By analogy, the
leaf roughness factors affecting deposition should also affect retention.
The effect of wind and rainfall of foliarly deposited PbC1, particles
(1-3 um, MMD) was evaluated by Carison et al. (1975).
These studies
showed Pb particulates to remain fixed to leaves under controlled conditions
for up to four weeks following fumigation; reentrainment wind speeds up to
6.7 m sec”) were ineffective in removal of surface deposits.
Losses due
to simulated rainfall were proportional to amount of rainfall; mists were
more effective than droplets in removing foliarly deposited lead, with
only 15 and 5% of the foliar deposits, respectively, being leachable.
Limited data are available on the retention
faces; these result from laboratory studies
exposure chamber for contamination of plant
1976).
Figure 1 describes the leachability
THMD assumed, particles physically measured.

335

of plutonium on foliar suremploying a low windspeed
canopies (Cataldo et al.,
of two forms of 738py dioxide

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