Description
The purpose of this project is to extend the current knowledge on transformation of traffic related pollution in the environment. Nowadays, there is a lack of advanced studies focused on road-specific heavy metals; the proposed research addresses the issue of the fractionation of road-specific metals bounded in solid environmental matrices (road deposited sediment, roadside topsoil, pavement dust, sludge and sediment from gullies), which can be easily released to the environment e.g. into the river system. Sites near roads characterized by a very high traffic and congestions in Cracow, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Opole were selected as research points. More detailed research, including not only the amount but also the origin and composition of exploitation dust, road deposited sediment, roadside topsoil, sludge and sediment from gullies is necessary in order to assess and recognize road-specific pollution in the soil-water environment and in the river system. The metal emission pattern from motor vehicles in road traffic environment and the assessment of road-specific metals in soil-water environment and river system will be performed using System Dynamic Modeling. This pattern will be based on the research results supplemented by statistical analysis applied for better understanding of the relationships among the parameters. Obtained results can contribute significant data to literature, to the scientific community and make considerable impact on research in environmental monitoring and analyses of risk assessment. Research and results will be published in peer reviewed international scientific journals. Results and conclusions will be presented on international conferences and efforts will be made to establish contacts for potential further cooperation in this field.
Summary of project results
The purpose of this project was to extend the current knowledge on transformation of traffic-related pollution in the environment. Nowadays, there is a lack of advanced studies focused on road- specific heavy metals; the proposed research addresses the issue of the fractionation of road-specific metals bounded in solid environmental matrices (road deposited sediment, roadside topsoil, pavement dust, sludge and sediment from drain storms), which can be easily released to the environment e.g. into the river system. Sites near roads characterized by a very high traffic and congestions in Cracow, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Opole were selected as research points. More detailed research, including not only the amount but also the origin and composition of brake dust, road-deposited sediment, pavement dust, roadside topsoil, sludge and sediment from drain storms were fulfilled. The study investigated the following physicochemical parameters and research such as 35 selected elements using ICP-MS, ICP-EOS, AAS and/or XRF, pH, conductivity as well as fractionation study via BCR and 6 steps sequential extraction followed by mineralogical evaluation (phase analysis XRD and SEM-EDS). Suspended matter, however, was proven to be the most suitable indicator of contamination with metals from non-exhaust emission. The metal emission pattern from motor vehicles in road- traffic environment and the assessment of road-specific metals in soil-water environment and river system were performed using PCA Analysis and System Dynamic Modelling. This pattern is based on the research results supplemented by statistical analysis applied to better understand the relationships among the parameters and to be more precise in assessing the potential health or ecological risks associated with non-exhaust emission from traffic. The obtained results contribute significant data to literature, to the scientific community and make considerable impact on research in environmental monitoring and analyses of risk assessment. Research and results have been published in peer-reviewed international scientific journals. Results and conclusions were presented on international conferences and efforts have been made to initiate and establish contacts for potential further cooperation in this field.
Summary of bilateral results