title: A new technique for characterizing the efficacy of fugitive dust suppressants.
abstract: The Portable In-Situ Wind Erosion Laboratory (PI-SWERL) instrument was evaluated for testing the effectiveness of dust suppressants for a range of native and constructed soils. The PM10 (particles with diameter < or = 10 microm) emissions from dust suppressant-treated and untreated soil surfaces were measured periodically over 14 months. No statistically significant differences were found among soil surfaces treated with three dilution mixtures of the dust suppressant. The temporal variation of PM10 emissions from treated and untreated plots for native and constructed soil textures indicated that: (1) reductions of PM10 emissions by the dust suppressant were significant within 2-3 months after the application and diminished substantially thereafter, (2) decomposition of the protective treated layer resulted in high PM10 emissions for longer environmental exposure times, and (3) emissions from untreated soil surfaces declined over time because of the formation of a natural crust. These results demonstrated that the PI-SWERL can provide qualitative and quantitative information on PM10 emissions for a range of soil textures and can be used to estimate the effectiveness of dust suppressants exposed to actual environmental (i.e., weather and solar radiation) conditions over long periods of time.
authors: Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA. ilias.kavouras@dri.edu
authors: Ilias G
authors: IG
authors: Kavouras
authors: Vicken
authors: V
authors: Etyemezian
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Nikolich
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Gillies
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Sweeney
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Young
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Shafer
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004391:Dust / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D012987:Soil