Assessment of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Roadside Soils from Mafraq, Jordan

In this study, the concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb, Co, Fe, Ni, and Zn) in roadside soil samples were measured using a flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). A total of 97 roadside soil samples were collected during the dry season from Mafraq, Jordan. The study area is classified as commercial area, industrial area, residential area, and Irbid-Mafraq highway. The average concentrations (?SD) of the studied heavy metals in the analyzed soil samples were found to be 16840 (? 9479), 40 (? 40), 99 (? 44), 478 (? 155), 60 (? 62), 2 (? 1), 73 (? 23), 14 (? 5), and 45 (? 13) mg/kg for Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Co and Ni, respectively. The results of this study showed that the highest Mn, Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Fe, and Pb concentrations were found at the industrial area and the highest Cd concentration was found at Irbid-Mafraq highway. The average values of the enrichment factors for Zn, Cr, Cd, and Ni in the analyzed roadside soils were found more than 10, indicating anthropogenic sources. The concentrations of the metals in this study were compared with those reported by other researchers around the world.