A survey of heavy metal contents of rural and urban roadside dusts: comparisons at low, medium and high traffic sites in Central Scotland.
Nicholas CowanDavid BlairHeath MalcolmMargaret GrahamPublished in: Environmental science and pollution research international (2020)
Roadside dust can contain particulates enriched with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) as a result of the degradation of mechanical vehicular parts, tyre wear and combustion processes. To assess the potential accumulation of these metals in roadside areas, a snapshot study was carried out, investigating metal content at rural and urban locations in central Scotland. Samples of road dust were collected at six sites representing low, medium and high traffic intensity at rural and urban locations. The samples were separated based on particle size and analysed for heavy metal content using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) after acid digestion. The metals analysed were aluminium (Al), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). The rural area measurements were carried out in West Lothian, approximately 13 to 17 miles west of the city of Edinburgh (UK). The urban area measurements were carried out in the southern part of the Edinburgh city district (UK). Concentrations of Cu, Cr and Zn were found to correlate with traffic intensity, although only Cu and Zn concentrations exceed recommended EC directive 86/278/EEC guidelines for urban runoff materials. The metal concentrations of small particles (0.45-20 μm) were exceedingly high in both Cu and Zn at areas of high traffic intensity, indicating potential areas of concern regarding health impacts for pedestrians and cyclists who are exposed to roadside dust on a regular basis.
Keyphrases
- heavy metals
- health risk assessment
- health risk
- human health
- risk assessment
- south africa
- air pollution
- sewage sludge
- aqueous solution
- metal organic framework
- healthcare
- high intensity
- high resolution
- particulate matter
- mental health
- public health
- climate change
- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
- mass spectrometry
- cross sectional
- health information
- room temperature
- high performance liquid chromatography
- municipal solid waste
- ms ms
- high speed
- solid state
- anaerobic digestion
- liquid chromatography
- transition metal
- solid phase extraction