Analysis of Soil for Trace Elements along Two Highways of Kenya

Abstract

Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique has been used to study the levels of lead and other toxic trace elements in the soil samples collected along two major highways (Mombasa and Thika) of Kenya at the various distances off the road. The soil samples from Thika road are found to have higher concentration values of the trace elements: Cr, Zr; Mn, Fe, Y; Ni, Cu, Zn, Br and Sr than those from Mombasa road. The samples from Thika and Mombasa roads have maximum concentrations of Lead, 56 ug/g and 90 ug/g respectively at the distance of 100m off the roads, which is below the admissible value of 250 Ug/g for agricultural practices.