The effect of traction sanding on urban suspended particles in Finland

Springtime urban road dust forms one of the most serious problems regarding air pollution in Finland. The composition and origin of springtime dust was studied in southern Finland with two different methods. Suspended particles (PM10 and TSP) were collected with high volume particle samplers and particle deposition was collected with moss bags. The composition of the PM1.5-10 fraction was studied using individual particle analysis with SEM/EDX. The deposition in the moss bags was analysed with ICP-MS. The results showed that during the study period, approximately 10% of both PM1.5-10 particles and the deposition originated from sanding. Other sources in the springtime PM1.5-10 were e.g. asphalt aggregate or soil and combustion processes. It can be concluded that sanding produced a relatively small amount of particulate matter under the investigated circumstances.