Özet:

Gases emitted from both industrial estates and automobile exhausts in agricultural areas cause heavy metal pollution and these metals accumulate in the soil and plants. In this study, 72 soil samples were taken at 5 km intervals from 24 points along the Tuzluca-Iğdır-Nakhchivan route, through which the 080 State Road passes, at 0-10-30 meters perpendicularly inwards from the road and at a depth of 0-20 cm. Total lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) accumulations were determined in the samples. The significant decrease in lead and Cd concentrations away from the road indicates that heavy metal deposits have being caused by traffic. The effect of prevailing winds on total Pb and Cd deposition in north and south of the State Highway 080 was statistically insignificant. As the relationships between heavy metal concentrations and soil physical properties were considered, significant negative correlations were found between total Cd concentrations and sand and organic matter contents. Heavy metal pollution index (PI) values were found to be slightly and moderately polluted for Pb and close to highly polluted for Cd according to treshold values. The pollution load index (PLI) values were calculated as a function of the pollution index and according to the PLI results, it was evaluated that Pb and Cd triggered each other in terms of increasing toxic effects. It has been concluded that, with the re-establishment of the Silk Road, the traffic-related pollution will increase in the region.

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