| Resumo: |
Due to fast urbanization and the access and traffic facilities, many cities had been constructed close the great highways, where soils next to these highways are subject to many potential pollution sources, mainly the emissions from discharge for automotive vehicles. Concentrations of lead and zinc had been determined in soils and plants samples within 50 m of the edges from Presidente Dutra highway, in the valley of the Paraíba do Sul River, in the southeastern region of Brazil. The results had shown that the biggest concentrations of these metals find at 0-10 m of distance from the highway edges and decrease with increasing distance from highway. The average Pb and Zn concentrations in the study areas, respectively, were: 34,9 e 189,6 ppm (0-10 m); 10,6 e 62,3 ppm (10-20 m); 9,2 e 51,2 ppm (20-35 m); 8,1 e 44,8 ppm (35-50 m) for soil and 3,3 e 63,0 ppm (0-10 m); 2,4 e 45,7 ppm (10-20 m); 1,7 e 36,7 ppm (20-35 m); 0,3 e 31,8 ppm (35-50 m) for plants. High concentrations of the metals Pb and Zn near the highway edges are due especially to the automobile exhausts emissions, tires wearing, brakes materials and additives for motor lubricants oils.
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