Research and analysis

Diagnostic tool for source apportionment of heavy metals around roads

This project look at sources of heavy metal contamination in road dust and to apportion the relative contribution, where possible, of different sources.

Documents

Diagnostic tool for source apportionment of heavy metals around roads

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Details

The aim of this project was to look at sources of heavy metal contamination in road dust and to apportion the relative contribution, where possible, of different sources. Objectives designed to achieve this aim included a review of current literature on sources of heavy metals in the roadside environment; identification of appropriate sampling locations which permit a separation of apportionment due to traffic from other sources of input; chemical fingerprinting of potential input sources; comparison of measured compositions with those expected from manufacturers specifications; identification of anomalies; and finally, where possible, determination of relative contribution of each source.

Published 1 May 2008