Features of technogenic metal pollution of roadside soil according to x-ray fluorescence monitoring data

X-ray fluorescence monitoring of technogenic metal pollution of Moscow soil near two highways with heavy traffic was fulfilled. As a result of vehicles running, the macro and microelement composition of Moscow roadside soil was seen to substantially differ from the composition of both soddy podzolic soil (typical for Moscow region) and any other soil of the temperate climatic region of Russia. The average Fe, Mn and Ti contents in soil were found to exceed the usual background level by 2–5-fold, maximum Pb content — by 10–15-fold. The lateral and depth distribution of enumerated metal contents in soil near the highways was studied. It was shown that the behavior of lateral pollutant distribution in soil has no specific exponential shape. It has local extremuma and depends on the metal nature and the roadside terrain topography. For Pb — one of the most dangerous pollutants — the mechanism of chemical transformations and the interrelation of the pollutant chemical form, its molecular weight, the dwelling time in atmosphere and the distance to the highway were discussed.