The Use of Vegetation for Monitoring Airborne Heavy Metal Deposition

Abstract

In order to appreciate fully the complexity of using vegetation as monitors and indicators of aerial deposition of heavy metals, it is first necessary to consider the general principles underlying particulate transfer to plant surfaces. Of fundamental importance is the method by which particles arrive at the vegetation surface; by dry deposition and by wet deposition. Other important factors include particle size, wind velocity, and the size, shape and surface characteristics of the vegetation.