The heavy metals content in leaves and branch of Hippophae rhamnoides L. and Pyrus elaeagnifolia Pall. in the highway side (European route E80) in Türkiye

This study was conducted to determine the heavy metals of Cd, Mn, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cr in two naturally grown plants (Hippophae rhamnoides L. and Pyrus elaeagnifolia Pall.) and on the roadside soil. The samples in this study were collected from the European route e80 highway in Turkiye. Average concentrations of metals in surface soil samples were: Cd, 0.47; Mn, 656.18; Ni, 96.68; Zn, 171.90; Pb, 33.42; Cu, 45.82; and Cr, 95.60 ppm. Pollution levels were estimated based on soil pollution index (PI) and geoaccumulation index (I-geo). The general trends of soil pollution index (PI) and geoaccumulation index (I-geo) were Cu > Pb > Cd > Cr > Ni > Mn > Zn. Additionally, transfer factors (TF) were calculated to evaluate the feasibility of plant species for phytoremediation purposes. The leaf part of H. rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) has the highest TF for Cu among plant parts. Finally, in this study, the highest transfer factors were determined as Cu and Zn in Seabuckthorn; P. elaeagnifolia (Wild Pear) these are heavy metals Cu and Cd. In particular, it is thought that employing plant leaves as a monitoring technique may be helpful in keeping track of changes in Cu, Cd, and Zn concentrations in situations along highways. In particular, it is thought that employing plant leaves as a monitoring technique may be helpful in keeping track of changes in Cu, Cd, and Zn concentrations in situations along highways. The findings of this study can be further interpreted to assess the risks that may arise from exposure to heavy metals at the edge of highways.

Automated summary

This study investigated the concentrations of heavy metals in naturally grown plants and roadside soil along the European route e80 highway in Turkiye. The findings suggest that plant leaves can be used as a monitoring technique to track the changes in heavy metal concentrations along highways.