Assessment of potentially toxic elements pollution in soils and plant leaves along the high-traffic highway zones in Tehran, Iran

The accumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in roadside soils and plant leaves due to vehicular emissions presents significant environmental and public health risks, particularly in densely populated urban areas. This study evaluated the concentrations of five PTEs—copper (Cu), lead (Pb),...

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Main Authors: Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh, Hamid Toranjzar, bbas Ahmadi, Nourollah Abdi, Javad Varvani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: OICC Press 2024-12-01
Series:Anthropogenic Pollution
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Online Access:http://oiccpress.com/ap/article/view/8588
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author Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh
Hamid Toranjzar
bbas Ahmadi
Nourollah Abdi
Javad Varvani
author_facet Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh
Hamid Toranjzar
bbas Ahmadi
Nourollah Abdi
Javad Varvani
author_sort Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh
collection DOAJ
description The accumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in roadside soils and plant leaves due to vehicular emissions presents significant environmental and public health risks, particularly in densely populated urban areas. This study evaluated the concentrations of five PTEs—copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn)—in soils and leaves of three urban plant species (Pine, Cypress, and Mulberry) across six highways in Tehran, Iran, categorized into high, medium, and low-traffic zones. Soil samples were collected at a depth of 0–30 cm, and leaf samples were obtained from the canopy's outer sections. Samples were digested with aqua regia (soil) and nitric-hydrochloric acid (leaves) and analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Pollution indices, including Pollution Load Index (PLI), Transfer Factor (TF), and Bioaccumulation Factor (BCF), were applied to assess contamination levels and metal mobility.The results showed moderate pollution levels across high-traffic zones (PLI = 3.94), with cadmium (Cd) contributing the most significant ecological risk (RI = 154.50). Transfer Factor (TF) analysis revealed high bioavailability for zinc (TF = 0.78) and lead (TF = 0.81), while cadmium exhibited limited uptake by plants (TF < 0.004). Bioaccumulation Factor (BCF) calculations indicated Pine and Cypress species had higher potential for metal uptake, with BCF values exceeding 1 for zinc and lead in high-traffic areas, whereas Mulberry demonstrated relatively lower accumulation. Despite a normalized NIPI index value of 1, the enrichment factor (EF) for zinc (EF = 98.04) underscores significant anthropogenic contributions, particularly from non-exhaust vehicular emissions. These findings highlight the need for ongoing monitoring, effective traffic management, and remediation strategies to address heavy metal pollution in urban environments.
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spelling doaj-art-78e89a5688ec4adf83a349e0497ee1602025-02-11T11:19:41ZengOICC PressAnthropogenic Pollution2783-17362588-46462024-12-018210.57647/j.jap.2024.0802.25Assessment of potentially toxic elements pollution in soils and plant leaves along the high-traffic highway zones in Tehran, IranMahdieh Hosseinzadeh0Hamid Toranjzar1bbas Ahmadi2Nourollah Abdi3Javad Varvani4Department of Environment, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, IranDepartment of Environment, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, IranDepartment of Environment, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, IranDepartment of Environment, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, IranDepartment of Environment  AND  Research Center of Applied Plant Science, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, IranThe accumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in roadside soils and plant leaves due to vehicular emissions presents significant environmental and public health risks, particularly in densely populated urban areas. This study evaluated the concentrations of five PTEs—copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn)—in soils and leaves of three urban plant species (Pine, Cypress, and Mulberry) across six highways in Tehran, Iran, categorized into high, medium, and low-traffic zones. Soil samples were collected at a depth of 0–30 cm, and leaf samples were obtained from the canopy's outer sections. Samples were digested with aqua regia (soil) and nitric-hydrochloric acid (leaves) and analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Pollution indices, including Pollution Load Index (PLI), Transfer Factor (TF), and Bioaccumulation Factor (BCF), were applied to assess contamination levels and metal mobility.The results showed moderate pollution levels across high-traffic zones (PLI = 3.94), with cadmium (Cd) contributing the most significant ecological risk (RI = 154.50). Transfer Factor (TF) analysis revealed high bioavailability for zinc (TF = 0.78) and lead (TF = 0.81), while cadmium exhibited limited uptake by plants (TF < 0.004). Bioaccumulation Factor (BCF) calculations indicated Pine and Cypress species had higher potential for metal uptake, with BCF values exceeding 1 for zinc and lead in high-traffic areas, whereas Mulberry demonstrated relatively lower accumulation. Despite a normalized NIPI index value of 1, the enrichment factor (EF) for zinc (EF = 98.04) underscores significant anthropogenic contributions, particularly from non-exhaust vehicular emissions. These findings highlight the need for ongoing monitoring, effective traffic management, and remediation strategies to address heavy metal pollution in urban environments. http://oiccpress.com/ap/article/view/8588Bioaccumulation factorPollution load indexTransfer factorTehran highways
spellingShingle Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh
Hamid Toranjzar
bbas Ahmadi
Nourollah Abdi
Javad Varvani
Assessment of potentially toxic elements pollution in soils and plant leaves along the high-traffic highway zones in Tehran, Iran
Anthropogenic Pollution
Bioaccumulation factor
Pollution load index
Transfer factor
Tehran highways
title Assessment of potentially toxic elements pollution in soils and plant leaves along the high-traffic highway zones in Tehran, Iran
title_full Assessment of potentially toxic elements pollution in soils and plant leaves along the high-traffic highway zones in Tehran, Iran
title_fullStr Assessment of potentially toxic elements pollution in soils and plant leaves along the high-traffic highway zones in Tehran, Iran
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of potentially toxic elements pollution in soils and plant leaves along the high-traffic highway zones in Tehran, Iran
title_short Assessment of potentially toxic elements pollution in soils and plant leaves along the high-traffic highway zones in Tehran, Iran
title_sort assessment of potentially toxic elements pollution in soils and plant leaves along the high traffic highway zones in tehran iran
topic Bioaccumulation factor
Pollution load index
Transfer factor
Tehran highways
url http://oiccpress.com/ap/article/view/8588
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