Characterization, heavy metal content and health risk assessment of urban road dusts from the historic center of the city of Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract

In the present study, an investigation of the mineralogy and morphology, the heavy metal content and the health risk of urban road dusts from the second largest city of Greece was conducted. For this reason road dust samples from selected sites within the city core area were collected. No differences were observed in the mineralogy of road dusts coming from different sampling sites, and they were mainly consisted of quartz and calcite, while an elevated amorphous content was detected. Morphologically road dusts presented Ca-rich, Fe-rich and silicates particles with various shapes and sizes. The mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in road dust were 1.76, 104.9, 662.3, 336.4, 89.43, 209 and 452.8 μg g, respectively. A series of spatial distribution patterns revealed that the hotspot areas were tended to associate with major road junctions and regions with high traffic. Combination of pollution indexes and statistical analyses (correlation analysis, cluster analysis and principal component analysis) revealed that road dusts have a severe influence by anthropogenic activities. In attempt to identify the source of metals through geostatistical and multivariate statistical analyses, it was concluded as follows: Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn mainly originated from tire/break wear and vehicle abrasions, while Cd, Mn and Pb were mainly related to fuel/oil leakage from automobiles along with oil lubricants and vehicle abrasion. Hazard quotient values for children based on total metal concentrations for the road dust ingestion route were lower than safe level (=1). However, the fact that the Hazard Index value for Pb (0.459) which is a particularly toxic metal, was close to safe level, renders essential further investigation in order to provide more reliable characterizations of potential health risks.

Geochemical, Mineralogical and Morphological Characterisation of Road Dust and Associated Health Risks

“…Higher concentrations of these elements were found in samples from the suburban location, indicating the contribution of the surrounding agricultural environment to road dust. The median concentrations of lead, chromium and copper in samples of urban streets, particularly in F1 fraction, were similar to those of other studies (e.g., Thessaloniki [41], Shiraz [42], Urumqi and Zhuzhou [43]). Lead, chromium and copper concentrations in the ranges 48-375, 2.0-498 and 47-995 mg kg −1 , respectively, have been reported for street dusts of different cities on various continents [44], and references therein.…”

Metals concentrations in road dust from high traffic and low traffic area: a size dependent comparison

“…The sum of F1-F4 which represents the road dust smaller than approximately 50 µm was in the range of 10-20%. Similar results were reported by Bian and Zhu (2009) and Bourliva et al (2017). In these studies, the finest sieving fractions of < 54 µm and < 63 µm had a proportion in the range of 5-14% and 8-25%, respectively.…”

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Roadside Soils Along the Shenyang-Dalian Highway in Liaoning Province, China

“…Although most countries have banned leaded gasoline since the 1990s [14], roadside soil remains a reservoir of Pb contamination [15]. Tire and break wear, oil spills, and erosion of road surfaces and building materials contribute to Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd, and Ni pollution [16][17][18]. Heavy metals can remain in soil for extended periods because they degrade slowly, posing a severe risk to ecosystems and threatening human health through exposure pathways such as inhalation of dust, dermal contact, and ingestion of crops grown in the soil.…”