HEAVY METALS POLLUTION OF WESTERN ZONE SOILS OF THE

AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC
Odlar Yurdu Universiteti

- Associate Professor Maharramova Sevinj Telman qızı

e-mail:[email protected]
- Associate Professor Karimova Tamilla Hafiz qızı
e-mail:[email protected]
- Associate Professor Axundov İmran Adil oğlu
e-mail:[email protected]
- Associate Professor İbadov Fuad İlham oğlu
e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract:
Recently, the Earth has faced various global environmental problems. The main factor in the emergence
of these problems is the human factor. In modern times, one of the dangerous processes in the pollution of
the environment, including the soil, is the excessive accumulation of heavy metals in the biosphere,
atmosphere and pedosphere. Heavy metals occupy a special place among pollutants due to the scale of
pollution and the degree of impact on biological objects, including the human body.

Heavy metals have a great role in terms of physiological importance in living organisms.
However, it has already been proven that their intensive distribution in the biosphere and atmosphere and
their high concentration in the soil pose a great threat to biota.

There are various sources of soil contamination with heavy metals. In addition to ferrous and
non-ferrous metal industry facilities, one of the sources of environmental pollution with heavy metals is
automobile (vehicle) pollutants. Vehicle pollutants enter the soil and plants through the atmosphere,
poisoning them in various ways.

Key words: concentration, toxic, highway, accumulation, rock, anthropogenic

Adverse biological events occur when the amount of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Ni, Co, Cu, Sn, Hg,
Mo, Be, W) exceeds the Permissible exposure limit (PEL) of heavy metals in living organisms.

Among heavy metals, especially lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, zinc and nickel are considered more
dangerous pollutants. For example, high concentrations of lead cause changes in the reproductive,
nervous, cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems of humans. Its toxic effect causes a change in
the functionality of the kidneys, damage to the central nervous system.

These substances enter the body of biological beings (including humans) through soil → plants.
Many heavy metals are also very dangerous for living things. These metals, which get into the body in
particular, are adsorbed from the liver and gastrointestinal tract and get into the blood after a few minutes.
The physiological functions of the liver, kidneys, marrow, spleen and organs, which are very sensitive to
the effects of heavy metals, are quickly and rapidly disrupted.

The main purpose of the research is to study the quantity and distribution characteristics of heavy metals
in selected areas along the highway of Qazakh1 region and to determine its soil fertility parameters.

To achieve this goal, soil samples were taken from different layers along the soil profile to determine the
amount of heavy metals at a distance of 50 meters from the hard surface of the defined highway.

The samples were analyzed in the “Azelab” LLC laboratory of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural
Resources. Here, heavy metals were studied by atomic absorption spectroscopy methods.

Extensive research works have been conducted in the world in the direction of heavy metal contamination
of soils. Pollutants are getting into the soil from vehicle traffic waste primarily affect its physical,
chemical and biological properties and cause changes in its parameters. As a result of soil pollution with
heavy metals, along with sulfur and nitrogen oxides emitted from automobiles, the initial productivity of
cultivated agricultural plants decreases by 20-40%, and heavy metals accumulated in the soil have a
negative effect on the vital activity of soil biota. The share of automobile transport in the world's
environmental pollution among vehicles is 85%. Car emissions make up 26.4% of total pollutants.
However, in the 1970s, its share was 13%. In the last 40 years, its amount has started to increase.

It has been determined that up to 200 toxic heavy metals fall into the soil along with the gases emitted by
automobile traffic and poison it. In addition, heavy metals poison plants and other organisms in the food
chain.

In the study area, irrigated gray-brown soils (chestanozems)i2, dark gray-brown soils (chestanozems),
common gray-brown soils (chestanozems) and subasar-meadow soils (fluvisols) were separated.

As a result of road construction and technogenic works around the highway, the morphological horizons
of the soil are disturbed; the soil samples from the sections are taken from three layers: 0-20; 20-40 and
40-90 cm.

Accumulation of heavy metals in soils occurs naturally in various ways. First, primary and secondary
rock mineral compounds, soil-insoluble oxides and hydroxides occur as a result of the penetration of
organic substances and extraneous waste (pollutants) into the soil solution in the form of exchange ions.

Contamination of the soil surrounding the Qazakh3 highway with heavy metals and the change and
pollution of nutrients in the soil occur in different ways depending on natural and anthropogenic
influences. The distribution of emissions from vehicles is strongly influenced by meteorological and
hydrometric conditions. Here, the prevailing winds blow mainly from east to west or vice versa, which
causes pollutants to be carried along the highway and partly away. Relatively low rainfall prevents long-
term effects of contamination.

1
Qazakh District is district of Azerbaijan, located in the north-west of the country.
2
Chestanozems (kastanozems, from the Russian term chestnut soils)
3
Qazakh District is district of Azerbaijan, located in the north-west of the country.
It was determined that the pollution of the soils around the highway mainly depends on the amount of
pollutants from the intensity of traffic and the throughput of the highway. During 11.5 years, an average
of 2,880 grams of heavy metals (which of 40% was lead) was accumulated in each meter of the road,
produced by 90,000 vehicles per day.

In recent years, rejection of using ethyl alcohol in the production of gasoline has led to a decrease in lead.

Contamination of the soil with heavy metals depends on the distance from the highway and this
dependence is shown in table 1. It became clear that contamination gradually decreases and approaches
the background value as you move away from the highway. It is clear from the table that the most
contamination occurs in dark gray brown soils. It is true that there are differences between individual
heavy metals. In general, the highest contamination in soil is copper. Chromium and zinc are observed
also. The least detection was in mercury. It is true that the amount of chromium can be affected by rocks
and copper by the use of various pesticides with additional copper content.

Vehicle Contamination of surface of irrigated gray-brown soils with heavy metals (mg/kg) in 2022
(table 1.)

№ Indicators 50m upper layer 50m middle layer 50 m lower layer (PEL)4
(0-20 cm) (20-40 cm) (40-90 cm)
1 Zinc Zn 81,24 80,87 67,49 23,0
2 Cobalt Co 10,95 6,578 12,15 5,0
3 Lead Pb 7,364 4,517 < Lod5 32,0
4 Chromium Cr 66,93 66,80 56,61 6,0
5 Copper Cu 80,90 80,66 90,61 3,0

When studying the ecological characteristics of the vineyard soils in the plains of the western zone the
total and variable amounts of heavy metals were studied too. Here, it was determined that copper at 50m
upper layer (0-20 cm) was 80.90mg/kg and zinc was 81.24mg/kg in gray-brown (chestnut) soils (See
Graphics 1 and 2).

Graphics 1. Quantity of Copper (Cu) in soil

100.00 80.90 80.66 90.61
50.00
3.00
-
50m upper layer 50m middle layer 50 m lower layer (PEL)
(0-20sm) (20-40 sm) (40-90 sm)

Copper (Cu)

4
Permissible exposure limit (PEL)
5
The limit of detection (LOD)
 Graphics 2. Quantity of Zinc (Zn) in soil
100.00
81.24 80.87 67.49
50.00 23.00
-
50m upper layer 50m middle layer 50 m lower layer (PEL)
(0-20sm) (20-40 sm) (40-90 sm)

Zinc (Zn)

According to the study, the reason for the abundance of these metals in the soil under the
vineyard was the application of mineral fertilizers and pesticides in excess of the norm to obtain a high
yield.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the amount of zinc on the soil surface, which has
many causes and sources; especially, friction of car tires, vulcanization of tires, and accumulation of
products of various corrosion and erosion processes, use of Dialkyl and Diethyl dithiophosphate oils in
engines and processes occurring in car parts. V.H. Pshenin [7] in his researches shows that 0.09-0.12% of
the oil used in the engine is zinc. 0.05-0.1% of oils used in diesel engines is zinc. Therefore, zinc
accumulates more around the highway. Currently, since zinc-plated metals are used in parts used in
automobile production, the soil surface is more contaminated with zinc.

While the amount of lead in the natural background in the soil was 0.5 mg/kg, its amount in the soil at a
distance of 50m upper layer (0-20 cm)from the asphalt floor was 7,364 mg/kg, in the middle layer (20-40
cm) it was 4,517 mg/kg, and the bottom layer also decreased(See Graphics 3).

Graphics 3. Quantity of Lead (Pb) in soil

8,000
7,364
6,000 4,517
4,000
2,000 - 32
-
50m upper layer 50m middle layer 50 m lower layer (PEL)
(0-20sm) (20-40 sm) (40-90 sm)

Lead (Pb)

The amount of cobalt varies sharply depending on the depth of the soil in the area. So, its amount was
10.95 mg/kg in the upper layer at 50 meters (0-20 cm), 6.578 mg/kg in the middle layer (20-40 cm), and
12.15 mg/kg in the lower layer (40-90 cm) (See Graphics 4). At the same time, it is known that the
amount of cobalt in soils is related to the rocks from which it is formed [1]. This regularity is also evident
in the soils of the research area.
 Graphics 4. Quantity of Cobalt (Co) in soil
10,000.00 6,578
5,000.00 11 12 5
-
50m upper layer 50m middle layer 50 m lower layer (PEL)
(0-20sm) (20-40 sm) (40-90 sm)

Cobalt (Co)

Table 1 show that the amount of chromium is higher in dark gray-brown soils. In particular, in the sample
taken from the 50m upper layer (0-20 cm) of the highway, its quantity was 66.93 mg/kg, in the middle
layer (20-40 cm) it was 66.80 mg/kg and in the bottom layer (40 – 90 cm) it was 56.61 mg/kg (See
Graphics 5). According to many researchers, its high around the highway depends on the corrosion and
friction between the parts of the cars.

Graphics 5. Quantity of Chromium (Cr) in soil

80.00 66.93 66.80 56.61
40.00
6.00
-
50m upper layer 50m middle layer 50 m lower layer (PEL)
(0-20sm) (20-40 sm) (40-90 sm)

Chromium (Cr)

The result
It has been established that the reconstruction of the Qazakh highway in recent years has led to the
intensive development of automobile transport. In particular, it has accelerated its development and
intensity in the strengthening of economic relations in many neighboring countries. On average, 4-38 cars
pass through the highway every minute, taking into account both directions. The arid climatic conditions
of the area and the weakness of the surface flow make it possible for the car waste to remain on the soil
surface or in its contents, and the heavy metals in these wastes cause poisoning of the soil, plants and
various living things. The result of the research showed that mechanical, physical, chemical and physico-
chemical pollution occurs mainly in the environment and soil cover with gas, liquid and solid wastes as a
result of the development of automobile transport. The total amount of heavy metals in soils is naturally
related to the parent rock.

In irrigated gray brown soils, the highest contamination was observed at 50 meters from highway. The
amount of lead at 50m upper layer (0-20 cm) was 7.364 mg/kg and copper was 80.90 mg/kg. Similar
results were obtained for cobalt, zinc and chromium. During the research, similar results were obtained in
dark gray-brown and ordinary gray-brown soils. The amount of cobalt was 10.95 mg/kg at 50m upper
layer (0-20 cm).
During the research, it was determined that lead and partially chromium from heavy metals accumulate
mainly in the top layer of the soil profile. In ordinary gray-brown soils, lead varies between 7,364 mg/kg
depending on the distance in the upper layer (at 0-20 cm), and its amount is 4,517 mg/kg at 20-40 cm
depth level. A decrease in chromium is mainly observed after a depth of 45-50 cm. Zinc and copper were
relatively evenly distributed along the profile. These results were also obtained on dark and irrigated
gray-brown soils.

In the course of research, it was found that pollution with heavy metals also affects the composition of
nutrients in the soil. Lead prevents the change of absorbable phosphorus, sulfur and potassium, depending
on the amount of zinc, cobalt, and lead; it prevents nutrients from changing into an exchangeable form
and causes an increase in salinity in arid conditions.
i