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ABSTRACT
Vehicle non-exhaust emissions are a major component of particle matter, including the direct wear of tires, brakes, road, and the resuspension of deposited particles. It is suggested that resuspended PM (RPM) emissions can be at the same magnitude or even larger than combustion emissions in urban centers. Factors affecting RPM can be included in four categories: road characteristics, traffic condition, land use, and meteorology. In order to study and evaluate these influencing factors, road dust less than 10 micrometers (RD10) was collected in 41 sites across Bogotá. The sampling points had diverse characteristics. RD10 levels varied between 1.0 and 45.8 mg/m2 with an average of 8.9 ± 8.4 mg/m2. Lower RD10 values were observed when vegetation density was high, pavement condition good, driving speeds fast and construction activities absent. On the contrary, RD10 increased under heavy-duty traffic influence and dry conditions. Among dust mitigation measures, management of land-use variables could be as important as traffic control and road maintenance.
Implications: This study documented for the first time in Latin America dust loadings less than 10 micrometers, information that can be used to estimate resuspended particle matter emissions in the region. The influence of meteorology, traffic characteristics, road condition, and land-use variables was analyzed and quantified. The management of land-use variables could be as important as traffic control and road maintenance for road dust mitigation. Further research interests are discussed.
Acknowledgment
The authors are grateful for the financial support provided under agreements 20161239 with Secretaria de Ambiente and 5224377 with Ecopetrol. The authors' viewpoint do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of their institutions. We thank our students who developed their undergraduate work with activities from this project. We also thank the Colombian police who accompanied some of the field campaigns. The authors thank the China Section of the Air & Waste Management Association for the generous scholarship they received to cover the cost of page charges, and make the publication of this paper possible.
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Notes on contributors
Jorge E. Pachon
Jorge E. Pachon is titular professor at the Department of Environmental Engineering, Universidad de La Salle in Bogota, Colombia.
Sebastián Vanegas
Sebastián Vanegas a is a junior environmental researcher at the CLIMA research group, Universidad de La Salle in Bogota, Colombia.
Constanza Saavedra
Constanza Saavedra is an assistant professor at the Department of Environmental Engineering, Universidad de La Salle in Bogota, Colombia.
Fulvio Amato
Fulvio Amato is a Tenured Researcher in the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas de España.
Luis F. O. Silva
Luis F. O. Silva is the Research Division Director at Universidad de la Costa in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Karen Blanco
Karen Blanco is a senior professional of the Air Quality Management group at Secretaria Distrital de Ambiente in Bogota, Colombia.
Rafael Chaparro
Rafael Chaparro is leader of the Air Quality Management group at Secretaria Distrital de Ambiente in Bogota, Colombia.
Oscar M. Casas
Oscar M. Casas is a senior researcher at the Colombian Petroleoum Institute in Piedecuesta, Santander, Colombia.