Evaluate and characterize mechanisms controlling transport, fate and effects of Army smokes in the aerosol wind tunnel: Transport, transformations, fate, and terrestrial ecological effects of red phosphorus-butyl rubber and white phosphorus obscurant smokes: Final report

Technical Report · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5786375· OSTI ID:5786375

Van Voris, P.; Ligotke, M. W.; McFadden, K. M.; Li, S. M.W.; Thomas, B. L.; Cataldo, D. A.; Garland, T. R.; Fredrickson, J. K.; Bean, R. M.; Carlile, D. W.

An evaluation of the terrestrial transport, transformations and ecological effects of phosphorus (red phosphorus-butyl rubber (RP/BR)) smoke obscurant was performed at Pacific Northwest Laboratory. A similar evaluation using white phosphorus (WP) smoke/obscurant is currently proceeding. The objective is to characterize the effects of smokes and obscurants on: (1) natural vegetation characteristic of US Army training sites in the United States; (2) physical and chemical properties of representative of soils of those sites; and (3) soil microbiological communities. The influence and interactions of smoke/obscurant concentration, relative humidity (25%, 60%, 90% and simulated rain) and wind speed of 0.22 to 4.45 m/s by smoke is assessed. Five plant species and four soils were exposed to both single and repeated doses of RP/BR smokes in the Pacific Northwest Laboratory ''P-3'' rated recirculating environmental wind tunnel. Detailed results for RP/BR and limited results for WP are presented. Toxicity symptoms for plants exposed for 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours to concentrations of RP/BR ranging from 200 mg/m/sup 3/ included leaf tip burn, leaf curl, leaf abscission and drop, floral abortion, chlorosis, neucrotic spotting, wilting, desiccation and dieback. Grass and bushbean were the most sensitive. The intensity and duration of these effects varied. Soils effects data suggest that there is an increase in the mobility of selected trace elements after exposure; however, this effect appears to be ameliorated with time. Soil microbial community effects show a reduction in the production of nitrate after soil is exposed to RP/BR smoke. Most of the plant, soil and soil microbial effects are transient in nature and are somewhat less intense resulting from repeated exposures; however, there is evidence that some of these environmental impacts may be persistent. 43 refs., 44 figs., 67 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5786375
• Report Number(s): PNL-6071; ON: DE88002446
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOLS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
MASS TRANSFER
MICROORGANISMS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHINES
PHOSPHORUS
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANTS
PROGRESS REPORT
RESIDUES
SIZE
SMOKES
SOILS
SOLS
TOXICITY
TUNNELS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
WIND TUNNELS