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Effects of Road Dust Particle Size on Mineralogy, Chemical Bulk Content, Pollution and Health Risk Analyses

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  • Dídac Navarro-Ciurana

    (Departament de Geologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Edifici Cs s/n, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
    Grup MAiMA, SGR Mineralogia Aplicada, Geoquímica i Hidrogeologia, Departament de Mineralogia, Petrologia i Geologia Aplicada, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, i Institut de Recerca de l’Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), c/ Martí i Franquès s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Mercè Corbella

    (Departament de Geologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Edifici Cs s/n, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain)

  • Daniel Meroño

    (Departament de Geologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Edifici Cs s/n, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain)

Abstract

Because of the rising environmental and health concerns associated with atmospheric pollution caused by potentially toxic elements (PTEs), several road dust studies have been performed across the world in recent decades. This paper illustrates the effects of particle size on the PTE contents, mineralogical composition, environmental pollution and health risk assessments in road dust from Barcelona (Spain). The samples were sieved into five size fractions ranging from <45 to 500–800 µm. Although the major mineral contents (tectosilicates, phyllosilicates, and carbonates) were profuse in all fractions, the identified inhalable PTE particles (e.g., Fe, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni, and REE), with size < 10 µm, were more pervasive in the finest fraction (<45 μm). This is consistent with the concentrations measured: the finest fractions were richer in PTEs than the coarser ones, resulting in a direct correlation with the enrichment factor (EF x ), geo-accumulation (I geo ), and non-carcinogenic (HI) and carcinogenic (CRI) values. I geo and EF x values can be appropriate tracers for some common elements (e.g., Zn, Sb, Sn, Cu, and Cr), but they do not seem adequate for anthropogenic particles accumulated at concentrations similar to the geogenic background. Overall, the HI and CRI values obtained in Barcelona were acceptable, reflecting no serious health impacts in the study area, except for Cr. Our results suggest that fine dust particles are a more suitable fraction to conduct pollution and health risk assessments than coarser ones, although the EF x , I geo , HI, and CRI threshold values should be redefined in the future to include all emergent pollutants as well. In summary, monitoring programs should include at least the road dust evaluation of <45 µm particles, which can be performed with a simple sieving method, which is both time- and cost-effective.

Suggested Citation

  • Dídac Navarro-Ciurana & Mercè Corbella & Daniel Meroño, 2023. "Effects of Road Dust Particle Size on Mineralogy, Chemical Bulk Content, Pollution and Health Risk Analyses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(17), pages 1-26, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:17:p:6655-:d:1225822
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hyun-Min Hwang & Matthew J. Fiala & Dongjoo Park & Terry L. Wade, 2016. "Review of pollutants in urban road dust and stormwater runoff: part 1. Heavy metals released from vehicles," International Journal of Urban Sciences, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(3), pages 334-360, September.
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