Assessment of heavy metal pollution of topsoils and plants in the City of Belgrade

In order to assess heavy metal pollution in the City of Belgrade (Serbia), the concentrations of V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in 18 topsoil samples collected in the proximity of central urban boulevards and in urban parks were measured. In addition, the concentrations of the specified elements were determined in the leaves of three evergreen plant species Buxus sempervirens L., Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt. and Prunus laurocerasus L. in order to estimate their sensitivity to heavy metal pollution. Even though various types of soils from different parts of Belgrade were sampled, their heavy metal contents were very similar, with somewhat higher concentrations of almost all elements detected in the proximity of heavy traffic roads. Gener­ally, the concentrations of heavy metals in the leaves of the investigated plant species mirrored the heavy metal concentrations found in their respective soils and were higher in the plants sampled from the boulevards than from the urban parks. Since the investigated plants show no visible injuries induced by the detected heavy metal pollution, these species are suitable for successful urban landscaping.