LAUSR

Abstract The main objective of this review is to identify and analyse physical factors (PF) involved in the heavy metal accumulation phenomenon in the road-deposited sediment (RDS) in dry weather. Electronic databases were used to establish an order of prevalence by establishing quartiles (Q-citation frequency) for the PF identified. The results show that the eleven PF can most likely be classified into three categories: climatic-anthropogenic-morphometric. The studies most frequently referenced land use (Q1), rainfall (Q2), particle size (Q2) and vehicles (Q3) as key PF. There is a similar behaviour between the concentrations of Zn-Pb-Cu associated with the RDS in dry weather and the dissolved fraction washed from the surface in road runoff. The size fraction <250 μm is representative of RDS to characterize the metals. The review expands knowledge about the influences of the PF in the processes of deposition-suspension-interception-removal of the metals load in road environments.