LAUSR

The study integrates surface and vertical distribution of magnetic susceptibility and heavy metal contents (Pb, Cu, Zn and Fe) to characterize the signature of vehicle pollutants in roadside soils at Linfen city, China. Sites with reforestation and without vegetation cover were investigated. The results showed that magnetic susceptibility and heavy metal contents were higher at the roadside without trees than in the reforest belt. The variations of magnetic susceptibility and heavy metal contents decreased both with distance and with depth. The maximum value was observed at 5–10 m away from the roadside edge. The vertical distribution in soil revealed accumulation of pollutants in 0–5 cm topsoils. The average contents were higher than the background values and in the order Fe (107.21 g kg−1), Zn (99.72 mg kg−1), Pb (90.99 mg kg−1), Cu (36.14 mg kg−1). Coarse multi domain grains were identified as the dominating magnetic particles. Multivariate statistical and SEM/EDX analyses suggested that the heavy metals derived from traffic sources. Trees act as efficient receptors and green barrier, which can reduce vehicle derived pollution.