Understanding the factors influencing the build-up behaviour of different pollutants accumulated on urban roads is essential for the implementation of effective stormwater pollution mitigation strategies. Even though a significant knowledge base exists on different factors influencing hydrocarbon build-up, there is a dearth of evidence on how physicochemical properties of road dust influence hydrocarbon build-up. Accordingly, this study investigated the relationships between physicochemical properties of road dust and hydrocarbons associated with different particle size fractions of road dust.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeavy metal pollution of urban stormwater poses potential risks to human and ecosystem health. The design of reliable pollution mitigation strategies requires reliable stormwater modelling approaches. Current modelling practices do not consider the influence of urbanisation characteristics on stormwater quality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeavy metals build-up on urban road surfaces is a complex process and influenced by a diverse range of factors. Although numerous research studies have been conducted in the area of heavy metals build-up, limited research has been undertaken to rank these factors in terms of their influence on the build-up process. This results in limitations in the identification of the most critical factor/s for accurately estimating heavy metal loads and for designing effective stormwater treatment measures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe study investigated the adsorption and bioavailability characteristics of traffic generated metals common to urban land uses, in road deposited solids particles. To validate the outcomes derived from the analysis of field samples, adsorption and desorption experiments were undertaken. The analysis of field samples revealed that metals are selectively adsorbed to different charge sites on solids.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite common knowledge that the metal content adsorbed by fine particles is relatively higher compared to coarser particles, the reasons for this phenomenon have gained little research attention. The research study discussed in the paper investigated the variations in metal content for different particle sizes of solids associated with pollutant build-up on urban road surfaces. Data analysis confirmed that parameters favourable for metal adsorption to solids such as specific surface area, organic carbon content, effective cation exchange capacity and clay forming minerals content decrease with the increase in particle size.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe research study discussed in the paper investigated the adsorption/desorption behaviour of heavy metals commonly deposited on urban road surfaces, namely, Zn, Cu, Cr and Pb, for different particle size ranges of solids. The study outcomes, based on field studies and batch experiments, confirmed that road deposited solids particles contain a significantly high amount of vacant charge sites with the potential to adsorb additional heavy metals. Kinetic studies and adsorption experiments indicated that Cr is the most preferred metal element to associate with solids due to the relatively high electronegativity and high charge density of trivalent cation (Cr(3+)).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRoad dust contain potentially toxic pollutants originating from a range of anthropogenic sources common to urban land uses and soil inputs from surrounding areas. The research study analysed the mineralogy and morphology of dust samples from road surfaces from different land uses and background soil samples to characterise the relative source contributions to road dust. The road dust consist primarily of soil derived minerals (60%) with quartz averaging 40-50% and remainder being clay forming minerals of albite, microcline, chlorite and muscovite originating from surrounding soils.
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