Pollution of agricultural karstic soils by lead from automobile exhaust gases

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Abstract
Pollution of terra rossa soils from the Karst near Trieste by atmospheric lead from automobile exhaust gases is considered as a function of the distance from the source, an isolated straight road. The asymptotic decrease in lead concentration in soil with the distance on both sides of the road is empirically described by means of an intrinsically linear exponential function. The parameters (asymptote and curvature) of the function are first evaluated by linear regression with the linearised function, and then determined by a nonlinear regression program. The application of this model function allows an evaluation of the asymptotic lead concentration. Statistical analysis shows that fitting improves if lead concentration is referred to on a CaCO3‐free basis, because the calcareous grains from terra rossa < 1 mm‐samples contain only traces (< 2 μg −1) of metal. The effect of prevailing winds is also discussed.

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