Análisis de la contaminación ambiental y efectos sobre la salud pública por el uso de pavimentos en áreas urbanas: una revisión bibliográfica mundial

Abstract

The continuous growth of the urban areas generates an increase of the impermeable areas that produce pollution by heavy metals, affecting the water resource, soil, atmosphere and public health. This research presents a literature review of environmental pollution by heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr and Zn) and the effects on the public health caused by the use of pavements in urban areas around the world, between the years of 1995 and 2015. The Scopus, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect databases were used using the key words "Pavement" and "Heavy metals" to detect associated documents. In a second phase additional Key words associated thematically by the Scopus database were used. The results showed that the world literature reports a larger number of studies for the type of permeable asphalt pavement (42.1%), followed in order of importance by impermeable asphalt (24.6%), permeable concrete (17.5% %) And permeable concrete (15.8%). Likewise, the most studied medium with respect to heavy metal pollution generated by pavements was soil (64.3%), followed by air (18.3%) and water (17.4%). The results indicated that the average concentration of Zn in the water of road runoff is higher in the soil of industrial use (2201.4 μg / L), Pb average concentration in the soil of residential use (135.8 μg / L) , And Cd average concentration in the commercial use soil (140.2 μg / L). Zn recorded the highest (most abundant) average concentration compared to the other heavy metals studied for the three land uses (residential, commercial and industrial) and impacted medium (water, soil and air). As for international legislation, it was observed on average that Zn exceeded the maximum permissible limits of U.S.EPA for aquatic life in freshwater systems in the Asian continent by 1908% (water: 3435.8 μg / L). Likewise, Zn surpassed these limits in the European continent and in South America. On the other hand, it was detected that the average values ​​of Pb also surpassed by 3246% said norm, with respect to the water resource of four continental areas: Europe, Asia, North Ameria and South America. Cu (5470.5%) and Cd (6465%) registered a similar tendency. This shows a potentiation from the road runoff of cases of contamination of water sources and, therefore, the risk of diseases such as cancer from ingestion of contaminated water. Also, by inhalation and dermal contact with sediments accumulated on the tracks, which are suspended by wind and traffic turbulence. The results provide valuable information for establishing water quality policies for runoff and effective mechanisms to clean roads in urban areas.