Particles and associated metals in road runoff during snowmelt and rainfall

Abstract

This study analysed road runoff in northern Sweden with respect to the concentrations of and the loads of particles in different size fractions (4-6, 6-9, 9-15, 15-25, 25-40, and 40-120 mum) between a snowmelt period and a rainfall period, as well as during events within each period. There are also comparisons of the transport of different particle sizes between the two periods and during events within the periods and discussions on how different metals are associated with the varying particle sizes. The results showed, on average, eight times higher concentrations and five times higher loads of particles during the snowmelt period compared to the rain period for all particle size intervals. Using a t-test with 14 degrees of freedom, at a 90% and 95% confidence level, the mean- and the event mean concentrations of all particle size intervals were higher during the melt period compared to the rain period. Also, the particle concentrations for both periods decrease as the particle size increases. During the snowmelt and rainfall period, important factors influencing the concentrations and loads were the availability of material, the intensity of the lateral flow for the transport of the particles, and, additionally, for the rain period, the length of dry weather in between events. During the melt period, investigated particle sizes and TSS were highly correlated with total concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. During the rain period, the correlations between total metal concentrations and the different particle sizes were not as significant.