Abstract
In the previous chapter, we explored the transport of chemicals from one physical compartment to another—but only in their free molecular form. The reality, however, is much messier than that, as solid particles can travel in water and both solid and liquid aerosols can travel in the air. While particles moving in water and those moving in air are governed by different forces, there are also some striking similarities. One is the relationship between particle size and travel distance: the smaller the particle, the greater the distance that it is likely to travel. The second deals with colonization, as toxic chemicals can bind to particles, hitching a ride on them as they travel downstream or downwind.
The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.
— Ecclesiastes 1:6–7
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© 2016 Alan Kolok
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Kolok, A.S. (2016). Traveling Particles. In: Modern Poisons. Island Press, Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1-61091-609-7_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1-61091-609-7_7
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