Abstract

ROMERO-BARREIRO, María del Pilar; PINILLA-CASTANEDA, Rubén Darío  and  ZAFRA-MEJIA, Carlos Alfonso. Temporal Assessment of the Heavy Metals (Pb and Cu) Concentration Associated with the Road Sediment: Fontibón-Barrios Unidos (Bogotá D.C., Colombia). Ing. Univ. [online]. 2015, vol.19, n.2, pp.315-333. ISSN 0123-2126.  https://doi.org/10.1114/javeriana.iyu19-2.etcm.

Heavy metals associated with the road sediment can impair the quality of air, soil and vegetation of environment when they are suspended by the wind and turbulence induced by the traffic. Additionally, they can affect the water quality of the river systems when they are transported by the runoff. The objective of this paper is to present a temporary assessment (daily) of the heavy metals (Pb-Cu) concentration associated with the road sediment of the localities of Fontibón and Barrios Unidos (Bogotá D.C., Colombia). The concentration was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Previously the samples were digested in a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acid (3:1; aqua regia). The results show for the finest fraction of road sediment (< 63 µm), which is also the fraction with size closest to the potentially inhalable (< 10 µm), that the concentrations tend to increase in dry weather (Pb: 34%; Cu: 40%). The concentrations of Pb and Cu during this period are 1.59 and 5.30 times higher than the lowest limit value fixed by the administrations of Cataluña and Canada, respectively. The findings are a reference point for Colombia in order to publish legislation associated with this type of pollution (hazardous waste).

Keywords : climatology; heavy metals; road-deposited sediment; urban pollution.

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