Application of micro-morphology in the physical characterization of urban road dust

Abstract

Urban road dust was collected from Vellore City, Tamil Nadu, India, and analyzed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine road dust from nine sampling locations in the study region. SEM image analysis was used to identify various shape factors of collected dust particles. The equivalent spherical diameter of most particles was between 10μm and 30μm. Fine particles had greater concentrations at locations with higher traffic flow. Particles were categorized into four classes based on their shape factors, viz., spherical, mineral, elongated, or irregular. Spherical particles had the smallest mean equivalent diameter (1.95μm) and mineral particles had the largest diameter (33.3μm). Spherical particles made up the smallest portion of road dust (0–12%) in the study region and mineral particles made up the largest (45–65%). Elongated and irregular particles, each made up 23–30% of road dust. Electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis was used to identify the elemental composition of dust particles. Spherical particles were mostly from combustion sources and mineral particles were largely of crustal origin. No individual source was found for irregular and elongated particles. Biological debris was the major source of irregular particles.