Heavy Metal Pollution in Soils Adjacent to the Kızıltepe - Viranşehir Road

The aim of this study is to determine the extent of heavy metal pollution in the soils adjacent to the Viranşehir (Şanlıurfa) – Kızıltepe (Mardin) highway, and determine the dependence of heavy metal pollution on the distance from the highway. Total of ninety-six surface soil samples (0-15 cm) were collected from the left and right-hand sides of the highway at six different points which were 0, 15, 30 and 60 m apart from the highway in four replicates. The maximum and minimum concentrations of heavy metals in soils were as follows: Pb 0.64-2.24, Cd 0.26-0.40, Ni 27-42, Cr 17-28 and Cu 9.9-14.2 mg kg-1. Results showed that Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr and Cu contents were higher near the highway. It is therefore concluded that the main source of heavy metal pollution in these soils might be due to traffic. Also, the amount of heavy metals in soils were in the following order: Ni Cr Cu Pb Cd.