Antimony speciation in soil samples along two Austrian motorways by HPLC-ID-ICP-MS.

Distribution of antimony and its inorganic species in soil samples along two traffic routes (A14, Rankweil and S36, Knittelfeld) in Austria was determined, since vehicle emissions are an important anthropogenic source of Sb in soil. The samples were taken along three parallel lines at about 0.2, 2 and 10 m distances from the edge of the road and in two depths range (0-5 and 5-10 cm from the soil surface). The optimized extraction was carried out using 100 mmol L(-1) citric acid at pH 2.08 applying an ultrasonic bath for 45 min at room temperature. Speciation analyses were done using on-line isotope dilution after a chromatographic separation of Sb species. Results of the two traffic routes confirmed significant accumulations of Sb at surface (0-5 cm depth) exceeding the natural background values by more than ten times at the S36 or four times at the A14. Concentrations of the extractable inorganic species decreased to natural background levels within a few meters from the edge of the traffic lane. The predominant Sb species was Sb(V). The Sb(III) concentrations at 5-10 cm depths range are nearly constant with distance from the edges of the two roads. Magnetic susceptibility data of all soil samples show the same distribution pattern as Sb and Sb(V) concentrations along the two traffic roads with an excellent correlation. This is an evidence for an anthropogenic source of Sb such as abrasions of motor vehicles surfaces or braking linings. The input of Sb and its inorganic species at one of the sampling sites (Knittelfeld) in samples taken in 2002 and in those taken recently (2005) was monitored. An increase in Sb (>or=30%), Sb(v)(>or=51%) and Sb(iii)(>or=10%) concentrations was only observed near the edge (<or=2 m) of the road.