What is it about?

Detailed knowledge of the processes that metals undergo during dry weather periods whilst deposited on urban surfaces and their environmental significance is essential to predict the potential influence of metals on stormwater quality in order to develop appropriate stormwater pollution mitigation measures. However, to-date, very limited research has been undertaken in this area. Accordingly, this study investigated the geochemical phase and particle size relationships of seven metals which are commonly associated with urban road dust, using sequential extraction in order to assess their mobility characteristics.

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Why is it important?

The focus of this study was, to characterise the geochemical phases of particulate metals collected over a range of dry periods, and to understand the relationship of particle size to the mobility of metals on urban road surfaces. The study outcomes are expected to contribute to the more efficient design of stormwater pollution mitigation measures based on the detailed understanding of metals bound to particles.

Perspectives

Metals which accumulate on urban areas are of environmental concern due to their adverse impacts on human and ecological health. The findings from this research study is expected to contribute to the accurate assessment of metals based on the metal particulate relationship and for the development of more effective stormwater pollution mitigation measures.

Professor Ashantha Goonetilleke
Queensland University of Technology

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Geochemical phase and particle size relationships of metals in urban road dust, Environmental Pollution, November 2017, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.06.059.
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