Size and Distribution of Dust Particles Deposited on Leaves of Fraxinus rotundifolia, Platanus orientalis, and Robinia pseudoacacia Trees in Paveh, West of Iran

The ability of trees to trap dusts convinces their use for preventing the transport of dust over longer distances. This ability is increasingly important in threatened areas with dust invasion. The purpose of this study was to compare the size and distribution of particles deposited on the leaves surface of Fraxinus rotundifolia, Platanus orientalis, and Robinia pseudoacacia trees, in Paveh, west of Iran. Leaf samples were collected randomly from different heights of 10 individual trees in four main directions and washed thoroughly by distilled water. Dust particles of the solutions were dried-oven. Measurement particles of dusts were done by a particle size distribution instrument, Fritsch analysette22. The measurement of particle size distribution showed that the particles deposited on the leaves surface ranged form 0.65 to 105 micron. orientalis was more effective for dust-retaining particles size less than 10 micron (PM 10) in compare to F. rotundifolia and R. pseudoacacia. The results of this study will open up an avenue for identifying and selecting the appropriate trees for plantation in endangered areas by dusts according to the type, size and distance from the emission source.