Biomonitoring Road Dust Pollution Along Streets with Various Traffic Densities

Abstract

The rapid development of modern society and continuous demand of land for infrastructural development in urban areas has caused great contamination pressure on the local environment [1]. Despite extensive environmental steps, the number of vehicles are growing at an unprecedented rate. The increasing volume of emissions originates from fuel combustion (Pb and Ba), tyre, brake, engine and vehicle component deterioration (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sb, V, and Zn) and, indirectly, by resuspension of soil (Al, Fe, and associated elements) and street dust [2-3]. Among various heavy metals emission sources, vehicle emissions are known to be one of the main contributors in urban areas [4-6]. It has been shown repeatedly that road dust emissions containing heavy metals cause health problems such as black lung disease, silicosis, allergies, anaemia, cancers, asthma, etc. [7-8]. plant damage (photosynthesis disruption, cell membrane permeability problems, damages to root structures, reduction of chlorophyll content etc.

Evaluation of Soil and Ambient Air Pollution Around Un-reclaimed Mining Bodies in Nižná Slaná (Slovakia) Post-Mining Area

“…Elemental analysis was carried out on an Agilent ICP-OES spectrometer 720 (Agilent Technologies Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA) with axial plasma configuration and with an auto-sampler SPS-3 (Agilent Technologies, GmbH, Waldbronn, Germany). Assessment of the hazardous elements in the soil, moss, and lichen samples was described several times in detail in earlier studies [ 17 , 23 , 28 , 29 ]. This procedure was maintained for this study.…”

“…For elemental analysis, an Agilent ICP-OES spectrometer 720 (Agilent Technologies Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA), with axial plasma configuration and with an autosampler SPS-3 (Agilent Technologies, GmbH, Waldbronn, Germany), was used. As mentioned above, the methodology of hazardous element determination was described in detail in earlier studies [17,23,28,29].…”

“…Soil enzymes are additionally used as a bioindicator of soil quality [21]; because they are very sensitive to environmental stress, they react quickly to the changes in the soil environment, and their determination is not difficult. The activities of urease (URE), acid phosphatase (ACP), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), ß-glucosidase (BG), and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) were used in numerous studies to detect the influence of soil pollution to the soil quality [22,23].…”

Using Bio-Monitors to Determine the Mercury Air Pollution in a Former Mining Area

“…Moreover, it is possible to simultaneously evaluate several hazardous substances in the air [15]. Thus far, mosses and lichens have been successfully used to monitor air quality in various types of environments, such as traffic, parking lots, urban areas, mining areas, and the interior spaces of buildings [16][17][18][19][20]. Bioindicator methods aimed at assessing soil and air pollution, as well as monitoring environmental changes, include tree bark.…”

Estimation of Air Velocity for Levitation of Microparticles for Air Quality Control

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Affection of microparticles and bioaerosols on human health receives has seen important interest in recent years [1][2][3][4]. Arising from industrial zones, motor vehicles, or living activities, these particles float and are inhaled, causing negative effects on human health [3][4][5][6][7]. Studying to reduce these affects, beside examining the origin, moving laws, and distribution of microparticles in various regions, their direct filtration is also crucial for a cleaner indoor environment.

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