Introduction:

Diseases such as asthma and lung cancer are associated with heavy traffic in urban areas. A deep understanding of the pollutants generated by road traffic is relevant to public health control.

Objective:

To analyze the correlation between vehicular traffic intensity and heavy metal concentrations in road sediments in the city of Bogota, Colombia.

Materials and methods:

A descriptive observational study was performed. The degree of road pollution was assessed based on reference legislation for the protection of human health (inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact). Heavy metal concentrations (lead, zinc and copper) were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Regression models between traffic intensity and metal concentrations were developed.

Results:

The size fraction <250 μm of the road sediment was representative to analyze the correlation between traffic intensity and heavy metal concentrations. Lead was the heavy metal of greatest concern from the view point of public health in Bogotá.

Conclusions:

The following public health limits for control decision-making regarding lead are proposed: lower limit =4 850 vehicles/ day; upper limit =11 300 vehicles/day.

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