ASSESSMENT OF HIGHWAY-INDUCED POLLUTION THROUGH PLANT AND SOIL ANALYSES, IN CASE OF ORDU CITY SECTION OF BLACK SEA COASTAL HIGHWAY

Abstract

Mankind have been modifying and altering natural environment in line with his needs and desires since the day one of his presence. Such a transformation accelerated with the diversified and ever-increasing demands and turned into a threat for both the nature and human life. Environmental pollution is the leading threat. The reasons and the results of pollution are diverse and traffic has the greatest share in environmental pollution. Urban are under the threat of highway-induced pollution. Exhaust gases are the greatest source of pollution in urban. Heavy metal accumulation is evident over both leaf and soil surfaces. In this study, leaf and soil samples were collected around and different distances from Ordu City section of Black Sea Coastal Highway in two different seasons (wet and dry) and heavy metal analyses were performed on these samples. Nerium oleander plant was used as bio-receptor and heavy metal pollution levels were assessed through plant and soil analyses. Results revealed that highway with current traffic circulation and heavy vehicle intensity created heavy metal pollution in city center.