A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering of the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1976

Experiments were conducted during a four month period (May-August 1976) in order to determine the heavy metals concentration in the air adjacent to Bangkok Streets. Dust-fall measurements were carried out during (May-June 1976) at Bangkok Meteorological Stations (Bangna and Sukhumvit Road). Surface dust samples were collected at the edge of the road and at 5.0 m, 10.0 m from the roadside during a four months period (May-August 1976) in order to critically identify the source of heavy metals in air. A total of 190 air samples and 270 soil samples were collected for analysis. The effect of various parameters on air and surface dust levels were determined and discussed in detail in this report. Ambient air heavy metal levels are comparable to those measured elsewhere. Street heavy metal levels are related to traffic volume. Surface dust heavy metal concentration decreases as the distance from the road increases which gives an indication that automobiles are the source of heavy metals. High correlations exist between different pairs of heavy metals and are comparable to the study made by RICKY R.J. (1970). The high correlation coefficients between the heavy metals suggest that the source of pollution is the same.