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Spatial distribution of heavy metals, source identification, risk assessment and particulate matter in the M4 motorway

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Abstract

Metal-containing dust is a potential severe environmental and human health threat. Metals present in dust may originate from car exhausts, tear and wear of tires, and vehicular emissions, which are less manageable. Metal-containing dust from roads can contaminate the soils, and crops alongside motorway. This study aimed to investigate the Pb Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn concentrations in dust, soil, and vegetation collected from the M4 motorway Faisalabad. The results indicated that average metal concentrations in dust from all sites varies (Pb) 44.01 mg kg−1, (Cd) 1.22 mg kg−1, (Cu) 49.5 mg kg−1, (Ni) 28.3 mg kg−1, and (Zn) 113.7 mg kg−1. The pollution assessment indices CF and PLI of Industrial city and Painsra had comparatively maximum levels of environmental pollution. Moreover, the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) of metals was high at Chak 115 and Painsra, while Igeo at ten sites was in the following descending order: Cd > Pb > Cu > Ni > Zn. Furthermore, it was identified that the maximum ecological risk index (Eir) was in declining order, i.e., Cd > Pb > Cu > Ni > Zn, at all sites. The potential ecological risk was categorized as high risk in all respective sites. The particulate matter fractions PM2.5 and PM10 represented the maximum risk at the Industrial city site, which was unhealthy, although the Painsra site had poor air quality. The total suspended particulate was classified as hazardous at FDA city and Painsra. In contrast, food crops (maize, sugar cane, and sesame) and soil along the M4 motorway have similar Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn contamination patterns like dust. However, two crops, maize and sugarcane, along the M4 motorway were found to be more polluted. The level of metals contamination through dust disposition was consistently higher adjacent to roads, possibly indicating depraved impacts on food crops.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support from University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. We acknowledge editors and reviewers for refining the language of the manuscript.

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  1. Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

    Muhammad Hassan Bashir, Hamaad Raza Ahmad & Ghulam Murtaza

  2. Department of Forestry and Range Management, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

    Muhammad Farrakh Nawaz

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Muhammad Hassan Bashir contributed to planning the experiment, executed the experiment, and completed the analytical work; Hamaad Raza Ahmad supervised the planning of experiment and proof reading of the final draft and submission; Ghulam Murtaza contributed to planning and executing the experiment, co-supervised the research, and proofread the draft; Muhammad Farrakh Nawaz helped in planning and final proof reading of the draft.

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Correspondence to Hamaad Raza Ahmad.

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Bashir, M.H., Ahmad, H.R., Murtaza, G. et al. Spatial distribution of heavy metals, source identification, risk assessment and particulate matter in the M4 motorway. Environ Monit Assess 195, 1541 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-12120-w

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