Assessment of the Heavy Metal Contaminations of Roadside Soil in Aizawl, Mizoram (India): An In-Depth Analysis Utilising Advanced Scientific Methodologies
The study was conducted to evaluate the heavy metal contamination levels in the roadside soil of Aizawl, Mizoram (India). Twelve sites were sampled monthly from August 2020 to July 2021, and concentrations of copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometer. The concentrations of heavy metals at the twelve studied sites varied widely from 0.43-1.06, 20.54-21.21, 2.69-3.41, 0.25-0.54, 0.31-0.49 and 1.35-1.77 for Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn respectively. Pollution assessment tools such as the pollution load index, geo-accumulation index, and enrichment factor indicated moderate pollution levels. The study also observed fluctuations in the contamination levels due to the monsoon rainfall and the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Principal component analysis identified vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and atmospheric deposition as the potential sources of heavy metal contamination, with varying patterns observed at each site. While the observed heavy metal concentrations generally met permissible limits, the elevated levels suggested anthropogenic influences. It is crucial to continuously monitor and manage heavy metal contamination to mitigate potential health risks associated with heavy metal exposure.
Ashraf, M.A., Maah, Mohd. J., Yusoff, I., Ashraf, M.A., Maah, Mohd. J. and I. Yusoff (2014). Soil Contamination, Risk Assessment and Remediation, In: Environmental Risk Assessment of Soil Contamination. London, UK: InTech. https://doi.org/10.5772/57287
Åström, C., Åström, D.O., Andersson, C., Ebi, K.L. and B. Forsberg (2017). Vulnerability reduction needed to maintain current burdens of heat-related mortality in a changing climate—magnitude and determinants. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(7): 741. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph14070741
Briffa, J., Sinagra, E. and R. Blundell (2020). Heavy metal pollution in the environment and their toxicological effects on humans. Heliyon, 6(9): e04691. https://doi. org/10.1016/J.HELIYON.2020.E04691
Chen, H., Teng, Y., Lu, S., Wang, Y. and J. Wang (2015). Contamination features and health risk of soil heavy metals in China. Science of the Total Environment, 512-513: 143-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.01.025
Lee, H.-G., Byun, Y.J., Chun, Y.-W., Noh, H.-J., Kim, D.-J., Kim, H.-K. and J.-I. Kim (2021). Identification of metal contamination sources and evaluation of the anthropogenic effects in soils near traffic-related facilities. Toxics, 9(11): 278. doi: 10.3390/TOXICS9110278
Kaur, J., Bhat, S.A., Singh, N., Bhatti, S.S., Kaur, V. and J.K. Katnoria (2022). Assessment of the heavy metal contamination of roadside soils alongside Buddha Nullah, Ludhiana, (Punjab) India. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2022, 19(3): 1596. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH19031596
Lee, C.S.L., Li, X., Shi, W., Cheung, S.C.N. and I. Thornton (2006). Metal contamination in urban, suburban, and country park soils of Hong Kong: A study based on GIS and multivariate statistics. Science of The Total Environment, 356(1-3): 45-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/J. SCITOTENV.2005.03.024
Lu, X., Zhang, X., Li, L.Y. and H. Chen (2014). Assessment of metals pollution and health risk in dust from nursery schools in Xi’an, China. Environmental Research, 128: 27-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2013.11.007
Mafuyai, G.M., Kamoh, N.M., Kangpe, N.S., Ayuba, S.M. and I.S. Eneji (2015). Heavy metals contamination in roadside dust along major traffic roads in Jos metropolitan area, Nigeria. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 5(5): 48-57. Available at:www.iiste.org
Skorbiłowicz, M., Skorbiłowicz, E. and W. Rogowska (2021). Heavy metal concentrations in roadside soils on the Białystok-Budzisko Route in Northeastern Poland. Minerals, 11(11): 1290. doi: 10.3390/MIN11111290
Rødland, E.S., Heier, L.S., Lind, O.C. and S. Meland (2023). High levels of tire wear particles in soils along low traffic roads. Science of The Total Environment, 903: 166470. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2023.166470
Su, C., Jiang, L. and W. Zhang (2014). A review on heavy metal contamination in the soil worldwide: Situation, impact and remediation techniques. Environmental Skeptics and Critics, 3(2): 24-38.
SED (2020). “Report on Traffic volume study at Mizofed and Raj Bhavan north gate intersection/junction” by Civil Engineering Department, School of Engineering & Technology, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram (India). Unpublished, obtained with permission.
Turner, A. and M. Lewis (2018). Lead and other heavy metals in soils impacted by exterior legacy paint in residential areas of south west England. Science of the Total Environment, 619-620: 1206-1213. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.041
Wen, X., Wang, Q., Zhang, G., Bai, J., Wang, W. and S. Zhang (2017). Assessment of heavy metals contamination in soil profiles of roadside Suaeda salsa wetlands in a Chinese delta. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 97: 71-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PCE.2017.01.001
Yan, G., Mao, L., Liu, S., Mao, Y., Ye, H., Huang, T., Li, F. and L. Chen (2018). Enrichment and sources of trace metals in roadside soils in Shanghai, China: A case study of two urban/rural roads. Science of the Total Environment, 631-632: 942-950. https://doi.org/10.1016/J. SCITOTENV.2018.02.340