Abstract
The monitoring of trace element concentrations in roadside dust can be used to evaluate vehicular contributions to the environment. Here we compare the utility of two analytical techniques for elemental analysis of dust samples, SEM/EDX and ICP-OES, detecting elements from Mg to Au. In an evaluation of roadside dust at several different sites within the campus of King Saud University, situated in Riyadh, and the University of Qatar, situated in Doha, four elements are observed to be particularly prominent: Al, Fe, Mg, and Si, notwithstanding that they all have natural abundance in desert sands. This study implicates the influence of new technology in vehicle construction, including engine capacity (vehicles in these countries tending to be of relatively large engine capacity). The concentrations of Al, Fe and Mg in Doha show greater elevations compared to that obtained in Riyadh, both cities being centres of large urban populations, the levels in both cities also being enhanced above uncontaminated regional sands. Absolute values have been determined from use of the ICP-OES facility while the SEM/EDX technique has provided evaluation in terms of weight %, offering complementary information on the contribution of elemental concentrations from vehicular emissions.