Environmental and traffic-related parameters affecting road dust composition: A multi-technique approach applied to Venice area (Italy)

• Published in: Atmospheric environment (1994) Vol. 122; pp. 596 - 608
• Main Authors: Valotto, Gabrio, Rampazzo, Giancarlo, Visin, Flavia, Gonella, Francesco, Cattaruzza, Elti, Glisenti, Antonella, Formenton, Gianni, Tieppo, Paulo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2015
• Subjects: Asphalt wear; Brake wear; Non exhaust traffic sources; Railway; Road dust; Tires wear; MED, Italy; Tires wear; Railway; Road dust; Non exhaust traffic sources; Asphalt wear; Brake wear
• ISSN: 1352-2310; 1873-2844
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.10.006

Road dust is a non-exhaust source of atmospheric particulate by re-suspension. It is composed of particles originating from natural sources as well as other non-exhaust source such as tire, brake and asphalt wear. The discrimination between atmospheric particles directly emitted from abrasion process and those related to re-suspension is therefore an open issue, as far as the percentage contribution of non-exhaust emissions is becoming more considerable due also to the recent policy actions and the technological upgrades in the automotive field, focused on the reduction of exhaust emissions.
In this paper, road dust collected along the bridge that connects Venice (Italy) to the mainland is characterized with a multi-technique approach in order to determine its composition depending on environmental as well as traffic-related conditions. Six pollutant sources of road dust particles were identified by cluster analysis: brake, railway, tire, asphalt, soil + marine, and mixed combustions.
Considering the lack of information on this matrix in this area, this study is intended to provide useful information for future identification of road dust re-suspension source in atmospheric particulate.
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•Road dust of Venice is characterized by a multi-technique approach.•Road dust composition changes as a function of the driving conditions.•Six pollutant sources are identified by cluster analysis.•Sources: brake, railway, tire, asphalt, soil + marine, mixed combustions.