The Influence of Road Traffic on Heavy Metal Contamination of Road Dust and Roadside Soil along A Major RN3 Highway Through a Rural Area in Northeastern Algeria

Abstract

This study examines the assessment of heavy metal contamination of pavement-side soils. In our case we studied the section of National Highway 3 (RN3). In the environment of sampling sites there is no industry or dangerous activity on the environment, the heavy metals addressed in this study are (Pb, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn), their origin being road traffic. Results indicated that concentrations in road dust were higher than in soil. The distribution of heavy metal concentrations in dust is Fe>Pb>Zn>Cu>Cr>Ni, and the distribution in the ground is Fe>Pb>Cu>Zn>Cr>Ni in the direction of Biskra and in the opposite direction and decreases everything away from the road, while the distribution in the central solid ground is Fe> Cu>Cr>Cr>Zn>Ni. Climatic conditions such as wind, rainfall, temperature, humidity and the nature of the terrain were also significantly related to their enrichment in these roadside soils. the concentrations of these métals in road dust were generally higher than those in soils. Various pulications have examined the spatial distribution of heavy metals in dust and surface soils next to roads and their orogins.Kamani, M. [9]; They showed that the increase in anthropogenic trace metal elements in the surface environment can most likely be attributed to urbanization, rapid industrialization and increased vehicle emissions into the atmosphere. They revealed that the distribution of heavy metals in soil samples is affected by wind direction. They concluded that concentrations of these metals in soils are higher on the surface but decrease in low-lying areas and that the highest level of metals was found in eastern parts of roads due to prevailing wind. Also, levels of contamination of these metals decrease as one moves away from the side of the road. Authors have revealed that automobile traffic is the main source of pollution from road dust and adjacent soils with a contribution of more than 50%. In addition, unregulated incineration and hazardous waste dumps along the road were responsible for these contaminations.