A comparative study of heavy metal concentration and distribution in deposited street dusts in a large and a small urban area: Birmingham and Coventry, West Midlands, UK

• Published in: Environment international Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 563 - 573
• Main Authors: Charlesworth, S, Everett, M, McCarthy, R, Ordóñez, A, de Miguel, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Cities; Comparative study; Deposition; Dust; England; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Heavy metal concentration; Heavy metals; Medical sciences; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Roads; Soil and sediments pollution; Street dusts; Streets; Traffic flow; Traffic signals; Urban areas; Urban environments; Vehicle Emissions - analysis; Vehicles; England; United Kingdom; Great Britain; Europe; British Isles, England; British Isles, England, Birmingham; British Isles, England, Coventry; Heavy metal concentration; Comparative study; Street dusts; Statistical analysis; Urban area; Spatial variation; Heavy metal; Pollution; Dust; Health and environment; Risk assessment; Pollution source; Street; Sampling; Public health; Concentration distribution
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/S0160-4120(03)00015-1

Results are presented from a study of the distribution of heavy metals in street dusts of two cities in Midland England. The first (Birmingham) is a large urban area (population of 2.3 million), the second, Coventry, a small one (population of 0.3 million). Several trends were identified from Birmingham: higher concentrations were located near industrial areas in the northwest of the city and within the ring road. However, lower concentrations were found to the southwest in areas of mainly residential properties and parks. High values were also identified in association with junctions controlled by traffic lights where vehicles were likely to stop regularly. This last trend was further investigated in Coventry, where it was found that concentrations of heavy metals at junctions controlled by traffic signals and by pedestrian-controlled pelican lights (Mounted Pelican Controller, MPCs) were lower than those found in Birmingham, apart from Ni.