Ecological State of Roadside Soils of the Ussuriysk - Pogranichny Highway on the Border Territory

Abstract

The main physical and chemical properties and the content of heavy metals in the topsoils of roadside’s were determined. Most soils are heavy loams, low-humus, slightly acidic and neutral. Motor vehicle emissions are the main source of contamination of roadside soils with Co, Cu, Cr, Ni, average concentrations of which are 1.3-4.8 times higher than the background level. The highest values of the NPI pollution index were found in the soils of a flat area with a high concentration of heavy-duty vehicles operating at idle. There are significant differences in determining the degree of soil contamination with using various geochemical indices.