Anthropogenic Particles in Contemporary Surface Dirt Sediments in an Urban Environment

Abstract

The objective of the study was to characterize morphology and chemical composition of anthropogenic particles in contemporary sediments in an urban environment. The object of the study was the contemporary surface dirt and dust sediments. The study was conducted through the example of Ekaterinburg (Russia). Six typical neighborhoods were chosen for investigations within the residential area of the city. The samples of environmental compartments were collected on these territories. Samples of dirty snow sludge in the winter season, and samples of soil, ground, surface dirt and dust sediment in the summer season were collected in courtyards and adjacent areas of each neighborhood. The anthropogenic particles were selected by visual inspection from the 0.25–1 mm particle-size fraction of the collected environmental compartments. Morphological analysis was conducted by optical microscopy. The chemical composition and structure of particles were determined by scanning electron microscopy. According to their morphological features, structure and elemental content, the analyzed particles were divided into seven different groups: brick, glass, spherical particles, foil, tire fragments, slag and building plaster. The catalog of the particles was compiled.