Heavy Metal Contamination in Roadside Soil and Their Mobility in Relations to pH and Organic Carbon |
| |
Authors: | H Ramakrishnaiah RK Somashekar |
| |
Institution: | 1. Post Graduate Department of Biotechnology, Government Science College, Nrupathunga Road, Bangalore — 560 001. Ph.: +91-080-3103839 E-mail: hramakrish@yahoo.com;2. Department of Environmental Sciences, Bangalore University, Bangalore - 560 056, India. Ph.: +91-080-3218356 Fax: +91-080-3219295, E-mail: rksmadhu@rediff.com |
| |
Abstract: | Concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cu, Cr, and Mn were determined to assess the impact of automobiles on heavy metal contamination of roadside soil. Soil samples at four polluted sites and a control site were collected at a depth of 0, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30?cm. A comparison of elemental levels between polluted and control sites exhibited exceptionally higher concentrations at the former sites. The Pb levels in polluted sites varied from 70 to 280.5?µgg?1and it rapidly decreased with depth. Similarly, mean concentrations of Zn, Cd, Ni, Cu, Cr, and Mn were significantly higher at polluted sites and followed a decreasing trend with the increase in depth. Correlation coefficients between heavy metals and traffic density were positively significant except for nickel. Profile samples showed that Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Mn were largely concentrated in the top 5?cm confirming airborne contamination. The vertical movement and partitioning of metals, except Ni and Cr, exhibited predominant association with soil pH and organic carbon. The results have been presented using Heavy Metal Index. |
| |
Keywords: | heavy metal index vehicles soil pollution lead |
|
|