The car catalyst was developed as a way to reduce the emission of pollutants into the nature. Most Brazilian catalysts are composed of a metal part that protects a ceramic piece that is filled with atoms of three metals: platinum, palladium and rhodium. In the natural wear of this vehicle part, these metals are released and leave the exhaust system dropping themselves in nature. This present study aims to quantify the loss of the metals cited, from a new catalyst (0 km) and another above the mileage guaranteed by the manufacturer (> 80,000 km) to identify the loss of metals and consequent eviction on asphalt of 381 and 458 highways in the city of Ipatinga/MG. The loss of these metals between a new and old part were 9,1.10-5 ppm de Pt, 4,5.10-4 ppm de Pd e 2,9.10-5 ppm de Rh. Another objective of this study was to detect the amount of these metals in marginal soils to Ipatinga highways. Were detected an average value of these metals in the 381 highways edges (0 m) in mean 1,63.10-5 mg/g-1 de Pt, 4,53.10-5 mg/g-1 dePd e 8.10-6 mg/g-1 de Rh. In the highway 458 (0 m) were found the average values of 5,8.10-6 mg/g-1 de Pt, 3,6.10-5 mg/g-1 dePd e 6,1.10-6 mg/g-1 deRh. These results show that the loss of the metals Pt, Pd and Rh by wear of automotive catalysts are linked to the increase of concentration of these metals in the soils of studied highways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]