Variations in soil potentially toxic metal contaminants along roads of the Sfax region, Tunisia

• Published in: Environmental earth sciences Vol. 80; no. 23
• Main Authors: Mbadra, Chaker, Gargouri, Kamel, Mbarek, Hadda Ben, Ncube, Bhekumthetho, Trabelsi, Lina, chaker, Rayda, Sameh, Maktouf, Chaabouni, Semia Ellouz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Biogeosciences; Chromium; Climate effects; Contaminants; Contamination; Copper; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Environmental Science and Engineering; Geochemistry; Geology; Heavy metals; Hydrology/Water Resources; Iron; Lead; Metal concentrations; Original Article; Pollutant load; Pollution; Pollution index; Pollution load; Roads; Roads & highways; Soil; Soil contamination; Soil pollution; Spatial variations; Spectral analysis; Terrestrial Pollution; Zinc; Enrichment factor; Roads; Contamination factor; Geoaccumulation index; Potentially toxic metal; Pollution load index
• ISSN: 1866-6280; 1866-6299
• DOI: 10.1007/s12665-021-10073-2

Assessment of spatial variations in the concentrations of potentially toxic metal Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr and Fe was carried out along three roads in Sfax region to identify possible changes in their levels. Concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrometer. The study found that for the samples collected along Gremda road the mean concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cr, Cu and Fe were from 2.5 to 110.3; 21.3 to 255.8; 0.8 to 13.7; 0.9 to 11.8 and 9190.8 to 17,267.7 µg/g, respectively. For the samples collected along Manzel Chaker road, obtained concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cr, Cu and Fe ranged between 1.6 and 36.2; 9.8 and 79.2; 2.1 and 7.1; 1.3 and 15.9; 3065.6 and 4084.4 µg g 1− for Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr and Fe, respectively. For the sample of Tunis, they ranged between 6.8 and 60.2; 1.6 and 119.6; 1.2 and 6.7; 0.9 and 3.4 and 13,691.7 and 18,091.7 µg g 1− for Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr and Fe, respectively. The use of different pollution indexes: geoaccumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI) and enrichment factor (EF) showed the anthropogenic sources of Pb, Zn, Cu and Cr and the natural sources of Fe. The study indicated that the soils on the Gremda road are highly contaminated with Zn and Pb and no contamination with Cu and Cr. The other two roads showed lower contamination with Pb and Zn and no contamination with Cu and Cr. This difference is related to the variation in exposure to road emissions, the road activity and to the effect of climatic factors.