Abstract: The heavy metal pollution caused by road run?off water constitutes a problem in urban areas. The metallic load associated with road sediment must be determined in order to study its impact in drainage systems and receiving waters, and to perfect the design of prevention systems. This paper presents data regarding the sediment collected on road surfaces in the city of Torrelavega (northern Spain) during a period of 65 days (132 samples). Two sample types were collected: vacuum?dried samples and those swept up following vacuuming. The sediment loading (g m?2), particle size distribution (63?2800 µm) and heavy metal concentrations were determined. The data showed that the concentration of heavy metals tends to increase with the reduction in the particle diameter (exponential tendency). The concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Cd, Fe, Mn and Co in the size fraction <63 µm were 350, 630, 124, 57, 56, 38, 3231, 374 and 51 mg kg?1, respectively (average traffic density: 3800 vehicles day?1). By increasing the residence time of the sediment, the concentration increases, whereas the ratio of the concentration between the different size fractions decreases. The concentration across the road diminishes when the distance between the roadway and the sampling siteincreases; when the distance increases, the ratio between size fractions for heavy metal concentrations increases. Finally, the main sources of heavy metals are the particles detached by braking (brake pads) and tyre wear (rubber), and are associated with particle sizes <125 µm.
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