Scientific publications

Finely dispersed fractions of lithotechnical precipitates, resulting from the application of sand-salt mixture on the roads of Petrozavodsk, were analysed. Analysis has shown that both dust-like particles, less than 0.01 mm in size, emitted in the air by vehicles, and the toxicants they contain are potentially hazardous for the environment. Road dust contains high Mn, V and Cu concentrations. Ni, Co and Pb are within maximum allowable concentrations for soils. As the particle size decreases, Cr concentration rises, varying from 41 to 93 g/t in the finest fraction (<0.01 mm) and from 28 to 41 g/t in the fraction that is less than 0.1 mm. Microprobe study often reveals a high percentage of C (over 30%) on the surface of dust particles.