Deposition rates of atmospheric particulates determined from 210Pb measurements in soils and air

Abstract

Deposition rates of atmospheric particles were determined using previously published 210Pb data in soils and air. The dry deposition velocities for moorland and woodland soils were 2.2±1.8 and 9±2 mm• s-1, respectively. The 210Pb concentration in rain was calculated to be 94±10 mBq• L-1. The large (~ 4 times) deposition velocities in woodland relative to moorland soils is an indication of the degree of accumulation of particles, and most possibly contaminants within woodland soils, which is of practical importance in the mitigation of pollutant in urban areas by planting trees.