Availability of toxic elements in roadside soils (highway 75, Vojvodina, Serbia): is there any significant contamination risk?

Abstract

In this paper we provide the observations of a group of toxic elements Cu, Pb, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb, V, Zn, Sb, and Mo, in the soils that are sampled at the distances of 1 m and 5 m (two layers) from the road (Highway 75, north section). The observation of toxic elements are indicating a level of the existing contamination, availability and ecological risk. The mean values of the content of the elements Cr, Cu, Mo, Pb, Sb and Zn are lower with respect to the reference MAC values, whereas the mean and particular values of the content of Co, V, and Ni are higher. The content of the Sb, Pb, Мo, Cr, Cu, V and Zn reach higher values in the surface layer near to the road – at a distance of 5 m. The particular values of Pb, Zn and Cu only in the surface samples, at both distances, at two sampling localities, are indicating the presence of anomaly. However, the results of the content of the elements in most mobile forms are suggesting a presence of insignificant content of the toxic elements, which can easily become available to the environment and spread by streams or groundwater. The results of the Risk assessment code (RAC) confirms that there is a lower risk of contamination of the near-road environment by these toxic elements.