Heavy Metal Concentrations in Roadside Soils on the Białystok-Budzisko Route in Northeastern Poland

Abstract

Civilization development has contributed to environmental pollution. In recent years, the number of vehicles has increased significantly; according to the Central Statistical Office, the number of passenger cars in Poland in 2000 was nearly 10 million, while in 2020 it was slightly more than 25 million. The study aimed to determine the content and spatial distribution of trace elements (Fe, Mn, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn and Cu) in the roadside topsoil along the trunk road Białystok–Budzisko on different types of land use (urban, rural, agricultural and forestal areas). Forty-five soil samples were collected from a 160 km road section, at intervals of approximately 4 km. Metal contents were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentrations of metals in roadside soils occurred in the following order: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd. The average contents of Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb were higher than the geochemical background values of the Polish soils. Moreover, the values of the Igeo showed for Cd moderate to strong, while for Zn, Cu and Pb, moderate soil contamination. The study indicates that significant metal-binding factors in the studied roadside soils are Fe and Mn oxides. The crucial source of metals is road transport, depending on its intensity, which means amount, type, and speed of vehicles. Moreover, based on the analysis of the course of the factor values and their dynamics, it was observed that the areas where typical activities connected with the population take place (urban and agricultural areas) are additional sources of heavy metals. The results of this paper are relevant to the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in roadside soils. The study can contribute to reducing the concentration of toxic elements in ecosystems due to vehicle emissions with appropriate land-use policies.

Amaranthus Biochar-Based Microbial Cell Composites for Alleviation of Drought and Cadmium Stress: A Novel Bioremediation Approach

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Natural Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Hyperaccumulation and Hypertolerance towards Heavy Metals

“…Naturally occurring soil metals result from rock weathering or volcanic eruptions and are less bioavailable compared to sources of anthropogenic origin. Man contributes to high heavy metal soil concentrations through mining, agriculture (fertilization), metallurgy, or fuel combustion and transport [ 4 , 5 ]. Not only do these sources seriously threaten humans, but also animals and plants.…”

Heavy Metal and Drought Stress in Plants: The Role of Microbes—A Review

“…It has already been revealed that the drought can also have various indirect effects on plant growth and development and affects trace elements accumulation, and concentration in soil (Sardans et al 2008). Recent studies regarding droughtprone regions, for example Mediterranean shrubland, different parts of China, Europe and Africa, showed that drought changes the dynamic concentration of elements in soil and accumulation in plants species Peñuelas 2005, 2007;Xia et al 2015;Edokpayi et al 2017;Skorbiłowicz et al 2021). Importantly, drought affects the release of sol-K uble trace elements into the soil solution via the lysis of bacterial cells and the destruction of soil aggregation in drying-rewetting events (Turner and Haygarth 2001).…”