Content of Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Potassium in the Street Dust from the Area of Białystok (Poland)

• Main Authors: Mirosław Skorbiłowicz, Elżbieta Skorbiłowicz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Polish Society of Ecological Engineering (PTIE) 2019-11-01
• Series: Journal of Ecological Engineering
• Subjects: congestion; major elements; road dust
• Online Access: http://www.journalssystem.com/jeeng/Content-of-Ca-Mg-Na-and-K-in-street-dust-from-the-area-of-Bialystok-Poland-,113145,0,2.html

The aim of the study was to assess the content of Ca, Mg, Na and K in road dust collected in Białystok from various environments (roads with high traffic intensity, housing estate roads, roads located near parks and green areas), to determine the impact of road transport on the spatial differentiation of the content of tested components in street dust and identification of their main sources. In total, samples from 69 points were analyzed, which were taken in spring (late April and May) during the dry weather in 2018. The content of Ca, Mg, Na and K was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The average contents of tested elements in dust from all measuring points were in the following order: Ca (23.53%) > Mg (2.38) > Na (1.16) > K (0.25). This shows that Ca is the most numerous element in the tested dusts. Studies have not shown a significant impact of vehicle traffic, in particular the so-called non-exhaust sources related to this traffic on the content of main elements in Białystok road dusts. Analyses have shown that the main source of Ca and Mg in Białystok road dust are structural elements of roads, bridges and structures, in which building cement and its derivatives are the main component.