Assessment of Lead Pollution in Urban Roadside Environments of Gaza City

Abstract

This research investigated Roadside lead concentration at four different locations at Gaza city. Road dust continues to be a major potential reservoir of lead (Pb) in the urban environment, and an important potential component of child Pb exposure. This study presents analyses of lead concentration for 20 samples, collected along selected streets of different traffic volume (PCU) of Gaza city over different intervals of time. Lead concentrations determined for particulates, which were collected from the soil and the lead accumulated by the leaves of Ficusbengalensis were also measured. The maximum lead concentrations accumulated by the leaves was 122.77 at EL-Wehda street equals to 122.77 mg/kg. Meanwhile a lead concentration of 12 mg/kg was the highest concentration in soil a sample which is also found at EL-Wehda street. A statistically significant correlation was found between the number of traffic volume and lead concentrations accumulated by the leaves which ranges between (0.87<P <0.99 ) at the designated streets . Also significant correlation was found between the lead concentration in soil and lead accumulated by the leaves which ranges between (0.4<P <0.6). From our study it was obviously noticed that a high traffic volume increases with the concentration of lead on deposits and soil. Beside traffic volume, road characterization had its effect on the distribution of lead emission

    Similar works