Division: SSSA Division: Soil Mineralogy

Title: Symposium--Blowing in the Wind: Human Health, Ecosystem Behavior, and Environmental Impact of Dust

Lead Community Sponsor:
Cosponsor: Pedology, Soil Chemistry, Soils & Environmental Quality, Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition
Community Cosponsor:
Format: Oral Symposium
Keywords: Aeolianatmospheric particulate depositionparticulate matterwind erosion

Session Description: Dust emissions can impact soil pedogenesis, human health, ecosystem function, and soil fertility.  The vulnerability of soil surfaces to dust emissions is controlled in part by mineralogy, surface/site physical and chemical characteristics, climate, and surrounding anthropogenic activities.  Fukushima highlighted the movement of radionuclides and the potential risk of particulate matter to respiratory health, casting a new light on the importance of quantifying and understanding the risk from other dust blown contaminants including, but not limited to radionuclides and heavy metals.  Dust also serves as a vehicle for nutrients and can shape soil fertility, plant interactions, landscape evolution, and soil genesis.  Martian dust has opened a new field of soil science; highlighting Martian terrestrial systems as a new horizon of study.  We invite authors to submit papers contributing information to the characterization and quantification of dust and its effects on human health, ecosystem behavior and the environment

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