Physicochemical characterization and sources of the thoracic fraction of road dust in a Latin American megacity

Abstract

Road dust has been identified as one of the main sources of outdoor PM10 in Bogota (a Latin American megacity), but there are no studies that have analyzed the physicochemical characteristics and origins of its respirable fraction. A characterization of inorganic compounds (water soluble ions, major and trace elements, organic and elemental carbon) and an analysis of source contributions to the PM10 fraction of road dust were carried out in this study. A total of twenty road dust samples, selected from representative industrial, residential and commercial areas, were swept and resuspended to obtain the thoracic fraction. Size distribution by laser diffraction and individual particle morphology by Scanning Electron Microscopy were also evaluated. The data obtained revealed that the volume (%) of thoracic particles was higher in samples from industrial zones where heavy vehicular traffic, industrial emissions and deteriorated pavements predominated. Crustal elements were the most abundant species, accounting for 49-62% of the thoracic mass, followed by OC (13-29%), water-soluble ions (1.4-3.8%), EC (0.8-1.9%) and trace elements (0.2-0.5%). The Coefficient of Divergence was obtained to identify the spatial variability of the samples. A source apportionment analysis was carried out considering the variability of chemical profiles, enrichment factors and ratios of Fe/

Dissolved and Suspended Forms of Metals and Metalloids in Snow Cover of Megacity: Partitioning and Deposition Rates in Western Moscow

“…This, together with results of research in other cities [70], indicates significant influence of carbonates on the soils' pH value. The sources of carbonaceous compounds in the urban environments, aside from natural-originated carbonate particles, are dust from construction and demolition activities, as well as road dust particles mainly related to tire wear, motor exhaust, and brake wear [71][72][73]. Thus, rather high pH values of snow meltwater are associated with partial dissolution of incoming urban soils and road dust particles on snow cover surface.…”

Multi-Year Concentrations, Health Risk, and Source Identification, of Air Toxics in the Venice Lagoon

“…Some diagnostic statistical analyses have been carried out, In order to investigate any spatial differences in PM 10 concentration, in its metals content, and further differences between holidays and working days, or other temporal variations, the COD has been calculated. This coefficient is often used when there is the necessity of investigating the discrepancy between two different datasets, which may be, for example, two sampling sites, two different events, two seasons, years of sampling, as well as variables, like chemical concentrations (Liu et al, 2019;Ramírez et al, 2019;Galindo et al, 2020).…”

Average Hourly Concentrations of Air Contaminants in Selected Urban, Town, and Rural Sites

“…Worldwide air quality poses a risk both to human health and the wider environment (Agudelo-Castañeda et al 2019; Ramírez et al 2019; Oliveira et al 2019). Studies on air pollution focus not only on inhabited areas (Cichowicz et al 2017; Cichowicz 2018; Pérez et al 2010) but also on agricultural and undeveloped areas, which are used as background measurements (Hagenbjörk et al 2017; Putaud et al 2004; Zheng et al 2010).…”