Evaluation and characterization of mechanisms controlling fate and effects of Army smokes

Technical Report · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6800435· OSTI ID:6800435

Cataldo, D. A.; Ligotke, M. W.; Bolton, H. Jr.; Fellows, R. J.; Van Voris, P.; McKinley, J. P.; Mi, Shu-mei W.; McFadden, K. M.

The primary objective of this study was to characterize the fate and response of soil and biotic components of the terrestrial environment to aerosols, deposited brass, and brass in combination with fog oil. Important physical, chemical, and biotic aspects were investigated using an environmental wind tunnel. Air/surface deposition rates were determined for foliar and soil surfaces, both in the absence and presence of fog oil. Deposition velocities for foliage ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 cm/s at wind speeds of 2 to 10 mph, respectively. Foliar contact toxicity was assessed using five different types of terrestrial vegetation representative of Army training sites and surrounding environments. No significant foliar contact toxicity was observed for brass. The weathering and chemistry of brass aerosols deposited and amended to soils was assessed, along with the impacts of acid precipitation and moisture regimes on weathering rates. Rates of brass weathering and the fate of solubilized Cu and Zn are discussed. The influence of soil weathering processes and brass solubilization on seed germination indicated no detectable effects of brass. However, moderate toxicity effects were noted after seed germination indicated no detectable effects of brass. However, moderate toxicity effects were noted after 160 days of soil incubation. The effects were proportional to soil-loading levels. Influence of soil weathering processes and contaminant solubilization on soil microbiological activities indicated that soil dehydrogenase activity was more susceptible to impacts than was phosphatase activity or microbial biomass. Nitrifying bacteria and heterotrophic bacteria were not significantly affected by brass. Invertebrates (earthworms) associated with soil contaminated with brass were only slightly impacted, and only at loading rates >445 {mu}g/cm{sup 2}.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOD
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6800435
• Report Number(s): PNL-7459; ON: DE90017710
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450000* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AEROSOLS
ALLOYS
BRASS
COLLOIDS
COPPER ALLOYS
COPPER BASE ALLOYS
DISPERSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EQUIPMENT
MILITARY EQUIPMENT
PLANTS
PROGRESS REPORT
RESIDUES
SMOKES
SOILS
SOLS
TUNNELS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
WIND
WIND TUNNELS
ZINC ALLOYS