Title: Determination of heavy metals in roadside soil from Sapanca Area Highway, Turkey

Authors: Ilkay Sisman, Mustafa Imamoglu, Ali Osman Aydin

Addresses: Sakarya University, Faculty of Science & Art, Department of Chemistry, 54100, Mithatpasa Yolu, Lojmanlar, Serdivan, Turkey. Sakarya University, Faculty of Science & Art, Department of Chemistry, 54100, Mithatpasa Yolu, Lojmanlar, Serdivan, Turkey. Sakarya University, Faculty of Science & Art, Department of Chemistry, 54100, Mithatpasa Yolu, Lojmanlar, Serdivan, Turkey

Abstract: This paper describes the determination of lead and nickel in soil samples from Kinali-Sakarya highway side, near Lake Sapanca. Lake Sapanca is the drinking water source for Sakarya city and its environment. This highway runs between Ankara and Istanbul and carries a heavy traffic volume. Soil samples were taken from different distances from the highway once every two months for a year. Three sampling sites are distinguished, located in areas characterised by heavy traffic volumes but away from industrial pollution sources. In the solutions obtained by dissolving each soil sample, the metals are determined by using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Lead and nickel concentrations ranged from 0.0 to 47.54 and from 0.0 to 58.67 mg/kg, respectively. Nickel accumulations are lower than the world standard, but lead accumulations are above acceptable limit values. The highest lead levels were observed during September, November and March.

Keywords: highways; lead; nickel; soil pollution; Turkey.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2002.000674

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2002 Vol.17 No.4, pp.306-311

Published online: 14 Jul 2003 *

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