In this study, inorganic geochemical characterization of the thoracic (or < 10 μm) fraction of road dust in Barranquilla (a major industrial city in the Caribbean region) was conducted. Samples were collected directly from street pavements, and the fraction of particles <10 μm was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Major elements including Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, and S were the most abundant species, accounting for 23 ± 18% of the mass of thoracic particles. Enrichment factor was calculated obtaining that Sb, Sn, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Fe had a dominant anthropogenic influence. An exploratory analysis of morphology and geochemical composition of ultrafine particles was conducted using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM). Iron particles were identified as enriched compounds and as a mineral (magnetite). Hazardous ultrafine particles (UFPs, with diameter < 100 nm) such as TiO₂ and Pb (agglomerated shape), and V and Ni (almost-spherical carbonaceous particles) were also detected. The braking process was identified as a crucial urban source of thoracic particles and UFPs. The results provide data that can be used to better understand and manage road dust.

在这项研究中，对Barranquilla（加勒比地区的一个主要工业城市）的胸部（或<10μm）道路扬尘进行了无机地球化学表征。直接从街道人行道上收集样品，并通过电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法（ICP-OES）和电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ICP-MS）分析<10μm的颗粒部分。铝，钙，铁，钾，镁，钠和硫等主要元素含量最高，占胸颗粒质量的23±18％。通过计算富集因子，得出Sb，Sn，Cu，Zn，Pb和Fe具有主要的人为影响。使用场发射扫描电子显微镜（FE-SEM）和高分辨率透射电子显微镜（HR-TEM）对超细颗粒的形态和地球化学组成进行了探索性分析。铁颗粒被鉴定为富集化合物和矿物质（磁铁矿）。危险超细颗粒（UFP，直径<100 nm），例如TiO还检测到₂和Pb（附聚的形状）以及V和Ni（几乎球形的碳质颗粒）。制动过程被认为是胸腔颗粒物和UFP的重要城市来源。结果提供了可用于更好地理解和管理道路扬尘的数据。