The analysis of heavy metal pollutants emitted by railway transport

• Main Authors: Rasa Vaiškūnaitė, Vilma Jasiūnienė
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vilnius Gediminas Technical University 2020-05-01
• Series: Transport
• Subjects: railway transport; pollution; wooden railway sleepers; environmental protection; soil pollution; heavy metals
• Online Access: https://www.mma.vgtu.lt/index.php/Transport/article/view/12751
• ISSN: 1648-4142; 1648-3480

Recently, concern for a rapid increase in heavy metal pollutants released by railway transport has been expressed. Most of pollutant emissions from combustion processes are related to fuel consumption in the internal combustion engines of traction rolling stock. The main pollutants released into the environment cover particulate matter, volatile non-methane organic compounds, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. In this way, it is likely that the biggest polluters of the environment are traction units with internal combustion engines. However, other types of pollution are possible, where polluters can be not only traction rolling stock with the internal combustion engines, but also electric locomotive. For example, when due to friction of metals and deterioration of rolling stock wheels, heavy metals such as aerosols are released into the atmosphere, soil, surface and ground water, etc. and severely pollute the railway environment. Along with an increase in the electrification of railways, local environmental pollution is likely to be increased in the future. High pollution by heavy metals can also occur near the track storing creosote-impregnated wooden railway sleepers. Having analysed railway transport intensity and in order to assess pollution level, the stations of three major cities of Lithuania (Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda) were selected to investigate heavy metal pollutants (lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn)) acting as the most toxic and widespread elements. The highest concentrations of Pb (up to 50 mg/kg) were found at a distance of 5.0 m from railway sleepers in the upper (up to 10 cm) soil layer at Vilnius Railway Station. A comparison of the results of the investigated soil across the tested stations showed that Klaipėda Railway Station was the area most polluted with Cd. The highest concentrations of Cd (up to 1.5…1.8 mg/kg) were established at a varying distance of 5…10 m from the sleepers in the upper (up to 10 cm) soil layer of light loam. Among the investigated stations, the lowest pollution by heavy metals, including Zn, was found at Kaunas Railway Station where sandy loam dominated. A comparison of heavy metal pollutants deposited on the intact used and rotten wooden railway sleepers disclosed that the latter were more heavily contaminated with heavy metals and made from 8 to 13 mg/kg for Pb, from 0.3 to 1.2 mg/kg for Cd, from 13.8 to 66 mg/kg for Zn.