Metals In Road-deposited Sediments Research Articles

Granulometric distribution of metals in road-deposited sediments by using different sieving methods

Road-deposited sediments (RDS) contain metals that can pollute receiving waters during precipitation events. The concentration of particle-bound metals tends to increase with decreasing particle size. In terms of metal load, the highest loads were often located in the medium range of particle sizes. Many studies have used varying or undocumented sieving techniques without showing the quality of the separation process. This is important as different particle size classes are documented with different pollution contents and loads. This knowledge builds the foundation for the selection of best management practices to improve receiving water quality. Based on the knowledge that the separation of particle sizes by the commonly applied dry sieving can be methodologically biased, this study compares particle size classes obtained by dry and wet sieving methods. The aim of the study was to show the methodological influence of the sieving process on the particle-size distribution (PSD) with focus on the metal distribution within RDS. Therefore, concentrations of Cu, Zn and Pb were determined and loads were calculated per sieve fraction after wet and dry sieving. Wet sieving causes a shift of the PSD to finer particles and both metal concentrations and loads are significantly higher especially in the smallest sieve fractions. Fine, highly polluted particles remained in coarser sieve fractions after dry sieving. This leads to diverging metal contents and especially loads in the fractions > 250 µm and thus lead to varying conclusions from the results. The results of the comparison of sieving methods however confirmed the relevance of the fine particle fractions in terms of best management practices. The fraction < 40 µm showed highest concentration and load in RDS after wet sieving. The results also showed the considerable influence of the sieving method used and the need to document laboratory methods as part of good laboratory practice.

Heavy metals in road-deposited sediments and pollution indices for different land activities

The purpose of this paper is to study how urban areas under different land uses influence the heavy metals concentrations. This evaluation was accomplished by determining the concentrations of heavy metals in road-deposited sediments and then applying various pollution indices. The research problems investigated are: first, to measure the relative heavy metal concentrations found in roadside dust samples collected from residential, commercial, and industrial urban areas; second, correlate the heavy metals concentrations to different land uses; and third, to assess the environmental quality of the selected urban areas by employing various pollution indices. The methods used are: (1) Samples were collected using brushes and dustpans from an area measuring 1 m2 from three different areas in Kuwait which were defined by the EPA according to their activities, (2) Samples were extracted by acid digestion (US EPA 3050B) before analysis by ICP-AES (US EPA 6010B), and (3) For pollution analysis, the following indices were employed geo-accumulation index, ecological risk potential, and the risk index. The findings are first, there was an uneven distribution of heavy metal concentrations, the industrial area samples were higher in copper, lead, and zinc (approximately 4, 5, and 2.5 folds, respectively). Second, most trace elements are positively correlated, with many of them showing strong correlations. Third, the geo-accumulation index showed that the industrial area was classified as highly to extremely polluted due to high levels of Pb. The levels of Cd, Cu, and Zn followed Pb which had class 3 or moderately to highly polluted. Fourth, the risk index was about two folds higher in the industrial area than in other areas and the ecological risk potential for most heavy metals was low, except for Cd and Pb. In conclusion, land use could greatly influence the environmental quality of an area and many heavy metals share common sources.

Characterization of the contribution of road deposited sediments to the contamination of the close marine environment with trace metals: Case of the port city of Busan (South Korea)

We examined the concentrations of 12 trace metals in road-deposited sediments (RDS) and their contributions to the pollution of harbor/marine sediments in the port city of Busan, South Korea. The concentrations of Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, Sn, Sb, and Pb in RDS affected by industrial and traffic activities were 6.7–25.7 times higher than those in marine sediments. The enrichment factors indicate that RDS are extremely polluted with Sb and moderately to strongly polluted with Cr, Cu, As, Sn, Pb, Zn, and Cd. The mean modified pollution index distinguished between unpolluted marine sediments, moderately to heavily polluted harbor sediments, and severely polluted RDS. Furthermore, harbor/marine sediments close to shipyards and the mouths of streams and rivers were found to be moderately polluted with Cu, Zn, Cd, Sb, and Pb. RDS containing trace metals accumulate on impervious surfaces and flow into the marine environment via untreated stormwater runoff.

Magnetic measurements and geochemical characterization of the road-deposited sediments (RDS), Allahabad city, India: impact of climatic perturbations on sediment composition and provenance tracing

Magnetic measurements provide quantitative data on urban pollution (including heavy metal content) which correlate significantly with geochemical analysis and better constrain the source character of pollutants. The present study is aimed to map the distribution of heavy metals in road-deposited sediments (RDS) and identify the possible provenance of the sediments during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon (mainly fog) periods of Allahabad city, India. In all, 442 RDS samples from 60 representative locations were collected over 3 years, and the different magnetic parameters and metal concentrations were determined. The magnetic minerals were identified using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and backscatter electron-scanning electron microscopy (BSE-SEM) while principal component analysis (PCA) was used for the provenance tracing of the RDS. The samples record high magnetic susceptibility (χlf; $$ \overline{\mathrm{x}}: $$ 174.44–604.36 × 10−8 m3 kg−1), saturation isothermal remnant magnetization (SIRM; $$ \overline{\mathrm{x}}: $$ 1586.30–2421.51 × 10−5A m2 kg−1) and anhysteric remnant magnetization susceptibility (χARM; $$ \overline{\mathrm{x}}: $$ 461.64–1099.68 × 10−8 m3 kg−1) values independent of seasonal change. The magnetic minerals in the sediments lie in pseudo-single domain (PSD) and multi-domain (MD) from anthropogenic sources while stable single domain (SSD) is associated with both natural and anthropogenic sources. PCA of magnetic proxies with heavy metal concentrations suggests the derivation of the RDS from multiple (crustal, anthropogenic, traffic, and industrial) sources. The XRD analyses confirm the presence of magnetite and hematite, in addition to quartz, feldspar, gypsum, apatite, calcite, and dolomite in the RDS. Limited geochemical analysis of the RDS comprising Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Sc, V, Cr, Ni, and Rb suggests a predominance of anthropogenic load in RDS compared to geogenic sources. The magnetic measurements coupled with XRD and BSE-SEM analyses suggest the dominance of magnetic grains and heavy metals in pre-monsoon samples compared to those collected during the fog period. The geochemical data also support the seasonal control for the elevated heavy metal concentration in the RDS and their derivation from geogenic as well as anthropogenic sources.

Total petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals in road-deposited sediments in Tijuana, Mexico

A study was carried out to evaluate the concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd, and Hg) and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in road-deposited sediments (RDS) from Tijuana, Mexico, and identify their possible sources. Thirty RDS samples were randomly collected during the dry season using a brush and dustpan and classified according to construction material, traffic intensity, and land use. Soil samples were collected from a nonurban area and their concentrations were used as background values. For TPH, the samples were quantified gravimetrically after Soxhlet extraction, whereas heavy metals were extracted by acid digestion and their concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean TPH concentrations for RDS were 4208 mg kg−1 and ranged from 1186 to 9982 mg kg−1. For heavy metals, mean concentrations were 31.8, 50.2, 17.1, 0.1, and 0.1 mg kg−1 for Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd, and Hg, respectively. The Igeo results showed that RDS from Tijuana are moderately to strongly polluted with Pb and Cu and moderately polluted with Cr. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that Pb, Cu, and Cr could have their origin in tire wear, brake pads, bearings, and bushings. The findings of this study revealed that RDS from Tijuana are polluted with TPH and heavy metals and that their principal sources are anthropogenic activities.

Particle size distribution and characteristics of heavy metals in road-deposited sediments from Beijing Olympic Park

Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, heavy metals in road-deposited sediments (RDSs) of parks are emitted into the terrestrial, atmospheric, and water environment, and have a severe impact on residents' and tourists' health. To identify the distribution and characteristic of heavy metals in RDS and to assess the road environmental quality in Chinese parks, samples were collected from Beijing Olympic Park in the present study. The results indicated that particles with small grain size (<150μm) were the dominant fraction. The length of dry period was one of the main factors affecting the particle size distribution, as indicated by the variation of size fraction with the increase of dry days. The amount of heavy metal (i.e., Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd) content was the largest in particles with small size (<150μm) among all samples. Specifically, the percentage of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in these particles was 74.7%, 55.5%, 56.6% and 71.3%, respectively. Heavy metals adsorbed in sediments may mainly be contributed by road traffic emissions. The contamination levels of Pb and Cd were higher than Cu and Zn on the basis of the mean heavy metal contents. Specifically, the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) decreased in the order: Cd>Pb>Cu>Zn. This study analyzed the mobility of heavy metals in sediments using partial sequential extraction with the Tessier procedure. The results revealed that the apparent mobility and potential metal bioavailability of heavy metals in the sediments, based on the exchangeable and carbonate fractions, decreased in the order: Cd>Zn≈Pb>Cu.

Contamination and risk assessment of metals in road-deposited sediments in a medium-sized city of China

Road-deposited sediment (RDS) is a valuable environmental medium for characterizing contamination of metals in urban areas and the associated risks to human health. A total of 62 RDS samples were collected for metal test in four urban areas in a medium size city in eastern China. The areas that represented different land uses consisted of intense traffic area (ITA), commercial area (CA), residential area (RA), and riverside park area (RPA). The effects of particle size and different land uses on metal contamination and health risk were the major focus in this study. The test results showed that RDS in ITA appeared to have higher metal content, enrichment factor (EF), ecological risk index (RI), and the non-cancer and cancer risks than in the other areas. The metal contamination and health risk increased inversely with particle size. The particles less than 63μm were found to be most critical in development of metal contamination and health risk. The EF was measured to be greater than 2.0 in the four areas, indicating a moderate enrichment. The measured RI ranged between 50 and 200, indicating considerable to moderate risks. The non-cancer risk for children was high in the four areas but was low for adults in all test areas except in ITA. The cancer risk of Cr for children was high in all test areas. Based on the test results, the contamination control and management for metals in RDS shall focus on the effects from such factors as particles (<63μm) and the land use for intense traffic (ITA).

Understanding the relationship between heavy metals in road-deposited sediments and washoff particles in urban stormwater using simulated rainfall

Understanding the relationship between heavy metals in road-deposited sediments (RDS) and washoff particles is essential to controlling urban runoff pollution. RDS and its associated heavy metals were investigated along the urban–suburban–rural gradient around Beijing, China. RDS washoff and its associated metal contaminants in different particle size fractions were evaluated using simulated rainfall. The results showed that the washoff percentage of RDS decreased along the urban–rural gradient. The Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr and Pb contents in washoff particles were 28.1%, 20.0%, 19.7%, 11.6%, and 11.4% higher than those in RDS, respectively. Additionally, different metals showed increases in different chemical fractions. RDS particles <105μm accounted for 40% of the total mass in RDS, but 50%, 70% and 75% of the total metal content in RDS, washoff particle mass and washoff particle metal content, respectively. Rainfall intensity and duration affected the amount of metals in washoff, but did not lead to an increase in the percentage of metals with different chemical fractions in washoff particles. The findings presented herein will facilitate development of strategies for control of urban diffuse pollution from RDS.

Enrichment, inter-relationship, and fractionation of heavy metals in road-deposited sediments of Sydney, Australia

Urban road-deposited sediments (RDS) are potential sources of heavy metal pollution of both terrestrial and aquatic environments. We determined the heavy metals enrichments, their possible sources, and potential bioavailability and mobility in RDS from nine sites along major motorways of Sydney, the largest city with highest road traffic density in Australia. Mean total concentrations of metals in the RDS decreased in the order: Fe &gt; Mn &gt; Zn &gt; Cu &gt; Cr &gt; Pb &gt; Ni &gt; Cd. The corresponding order in the background soils (minimally contaminated from roads) was: Fe &gt; Mn &gt; Zn ~ Ni &gt; Cu ~ Pb &gt; Cr &gt; Cd. Both the pollution index (PI) and metal enrichment factor (EF), which are comparative measures between contaminated and uncontaminated sites, were highest for Cu and Zn. Inputs of Cu and Zn to RDS were likely to be mainly the result of brake and tyre wear, respectively. Cluster and correlation analyses showed that while the concentrations of these two metals were related in the soil, they were not correlated in RDS. Low PI and EF values as well as the close inter-relationships of Fe, Mn, Cr, and Ni in both RDS and soils suggest that these metals were derived mainly from natural sources. Metal fractionation data showed 50–95% of Cr and Fe in RDS to be present in the immobile and bio-unavailable residual fraction, whereas 15–65% of Zn was contained in the exchangeable fraction, which is considered to be mobile and bioavailable.

Total concentrations and fractionation of heavy metals in road-deposited sediments collected from different land use zones in a large city (Nanjing), China

In order to investigate heavy metal contamination in an urban environment during urbanization and economic development, 35 road-deposited sediment samples were collected from seven different land-use zones (commercial, residential, traffic, scenic park, educational, industrial and peri-urban) in Nanjing, a large city in P.R. China. The ranges of total metal concentrations found were: 28.7–272 mg kg−1 for Cu; 24.8–268 mg kg−1 for Ni; 37.3–204 mg kg−1 for Pb; 140–798 mg kg−1 for Zn; 0.44–2.19mg kg−1 for Cd; and 60.6–250 mg kg−1 for Cr. Metal fractionation was carried out using a modified three-step European Bureau of References (BCR) sequential extraction procedure. Cadmium and Zn were found predominantly associated with the acid extractable fractions; Ni and Cr were dominant in the residual fraction; Pb was predominantly associated with the residual and reducible fractions; Cu was dominant in the oxidizable and residual metal fractions. Based on the sum of the acid-extractable, reducible, and oxidizable fractions, Cd, Zn and Pb are potentially the most toxic metals in the road-deposited sediment in Nanjing. No significant differences, except for Zn, were found in the metal fractionation pattern for Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Cr in different land use zones.

Concentrations and chemical forms of potentially toxic metals in road-deposited sediments from different zones of Hangzhou, China

The 25 road-deposited sediments were collected from five different land-use zones (industrial, residential, commercial, park, and countryside) in Hangzhou, China. The concentrations of metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in these samples were determined using ICP-AES after digestion with the mixture of HNO 3-HF-HCl (aqua regia), and chemically fractionated according to the modified BCR (the European Community Bureau of Reference) sequential extraction procedure. The high metal concentration levels were detected in the sample from industrial zone and commercial zone having heavy traffic. While the low metal levels were noted in the street dust sample from residential zone, park, and countryside zone. The mobility sequence based on the sum of the BCR sequential extraction stages was: Zn (80.28%), Pb (78.68%), Cd (77.66%) > Cu (73.34%) > Mn (67.92%) > Co (41.66%) > Ni (30.36%) > Cr (21.56%), Fe (20.86%). Correlation analysis and principal component analysis were applied to the data matrix to evaluate the analytical results and to identify the possible pollution sources of metals. Factor analysis showed that these areas were mainly contaminated by three sources, namely lithology, traffic, and industry.

Analysis of heavy metals in road-deposited sediments

Road-deposited sediments were analysed for heavy metal concentrations at three different landuses (residential, industrial, commercial) in Queensland State, Australia. The sediments were collected using a domestic vacuum cleaner which was proven to be highly efficient in collecting sub-micron particles. Five particle sizes were analysed separately for eight heavy metal elements (Zn, Fe, Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, Al and Mn). At all sites, the maximum concentration of the heavy metals occurred in the 0.45–75 μm particle size range, which conventional street cleaning services do not remove efficiently. Multicriteria decision making methods (MCDM), PROMETHEE and GAIA, were employed in the data analysis. PROMETHEE, a non-parametric ranking analysis procedure, was used to rank the metal contents of the sediments sampled at each site. The most polluted site and particle size range were the industrial site and the 0.45–75 μm range, respectively. Although the industrial site displayed the highest metal concentrations, the highest heavy metal loading coincided with the highest sediment load, which occurred at the commercial site. GAIA, a special form of principal component analysis, was applied to determine correlations between the heavy metals and particle size ranges and also to assess possible correlation with total organic carbon (TOC). The GAIA-planes revealed that irrespective of the site, most of the heavy metals are adsorbed to sediments below 150 μm. A weak correlation was found between Zn, Mn and TOC at the commercial site. This could lead to higher bioavailability of these metals through complexation reactions with the organic species in the sediments.