In order to investigate on particulate matter emission and generation by the traffic of heavy-duty vehicles on roads, total suspended particulate matter (TSP) were collected at the roadside along major local-road Urawa-Tokorosawa with high-volume air samplers during September 14∼16 and November 30∼December 5, 1992. Concentration of tire-dust in TSP was determined by a method based on the determination of thiophene derivatives generated by the pyrolysis of TSP. During the latter sampling period, ambient concentrations of tire-dust generated by the traffic of heavy-duty vehicles and passenger cars were 1.8∼5.9 and 2.7∼6.0 μgm-3, respectively. These results suggest that 3-methylthiophene be a suitable indicator of TSP emitted and generated from heavy-duty vehicles, because it is a specific pyrolyzate from tire-dust for trucks and buses. Concentration of elemental carbon (EC), most of which could be emitted by diesel-powered vehicles. Contributions of total tire-dust by heavy-duty vehicles and passenger cars to TSP and EC concentration were ca. 4 and ca. 20%, respectively.
