ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS CONCENTRATION IN ROADSIDE SOILS NEAR AN ALGERIAN NATIONAL ROAD
SOUMIA RAMDANI
Department of Chemistry, Condensed Matter and Sustainable Development Laboratory, University of Sidi-Bel-Abbès, 22000 Sidi-Bel-Abbès, Algeria.
AMINA AMAR *
Department of Chemistry, Condensed Matter and Sustainable Development Laboratory, University of Sidi-Bel-Abbès, 22000 Sidi-Bel-Abbès, Algeria.
KHADIDJA BENOUIS
Department of Chemistry, Condensed Matter and Sustainable Development Laboratory, University of Sidi-Bel-Abbès, 22000 Sidi-Bel-Abbès, Algeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study assesses and quantifies the contamination by heavy metals from soils near a road in western Algeria (RN35, Tlemcen). The physicochemical parameters of soils and total heavy metals concentrations were determined using standardized methods and atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively. The results showed that most of the soils were contaminated with cadmium, lead and zinc in a concentration ranges of 1.47 to 3.00 mg/kg for Cd; 8.00 to 39.75 mg/kg for Cu; 16.75 to 301.25 mg/kg for Pb and 68.00 to 1952.50 mg/kg for Zn. Pollution index of seven soils samples exceeds unity evoking significant polymetallic pollution. Monitoring measures and reduction lead content in gasoline should be taken into consideration in order to reduce concentrations of these pollutants and avoid their introduction into the environment and contamination of groundwater, wildlife and local flora.
Keywords: Roadside soils, heavy metals, contamination, pollution, Algeria