Some preliminary studies on plants and pollutant levels along Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad motorway (M-3) (Pakistan)

The roadside verges of m-3 were surveyed to investigate their floristic composition and the levels of heavy metals in their soils. for this purpose,the floristic data from 102 quadrats,each 1x2 m in size were collected and their associated soils were analyzed for total lead,cadmium,copper,manganese,iron and zinc. these quadrats were distributed on three zones (border,verge,and fence) within the m-3 verges. fifty eight plant species were recorded. by considering their frequency and abundance values,cynodon dactylon,anagallis arvensis,imperata cylindrica,trifolium alexandrianum and sonchus oleracea were the most frequent and abundant species of m-3. the mean concentrations of total cu,cd,zn,mn,pb and fe in the roadside soils of m-3 were 14.0 μgg-1,1.8 μgg-1,43.4 μgg-1,336.1 μgg-1,43.2 μgg-1 and 683.1 μgg-1 respectively. by comparing these values with their standard toxic levels,these soils can be considered as non-contaminated.