ROAD SWEEPINGS FROM THE TRANSPORT AND ROAD COMPLEXAS A SOURCE OF URBAN CONTAMINATION

Abstract

The composition of the road sweepings of the transport complex of the city of Dubna in the Moscow region is studied and its environmental hazard class is determined. A chemical analysis is carried out on 30 samples of road sweepings taken in 2016 and 2017 during the spring cleaning of city roads near crowded places. The analysis is based on the following indicators: acidity, electrical conductivity, content of solid residue, chloride ions, heavy metals (gross, acid-soluble, mobile forms) and oil products. Hazard assessment of the sweepings is given in relation to sanitary standards. It is found that road sweepings are contaminated with highly toxic metals and petroleum products, have an alkaline pH, contain readily soluble salts, and belong to hazard class IV. Strong correlations between the content of heavy metals and petroleum products in the sweeping samples and the traffic intensity are revealed. It is found that the untimely cleaning poses a danger to the environment and public health.

Keywords

• road sweepings of the transport and road complex
• hazard assessment of the pollutant
• environmental pollution
• the city of Dubna