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.