Benz(a)pyrene content in soil and medicinal plants of Perm Krai (Russian Federation)

Abstract

The article investigates the content of benz(a)pyrene in the soil and leaves of the medicinal plant Plantago magorL. growing in the Perm Territory at different distances from a major highway. The authors found an increase in the concentration of benz(a)pyrene in the soil and in the leaves of Plantago major L. during three years from 2019 to 2021. This is associated with the increase in traffic intensity along the Perm-Ilyinsky highway. The article shows a tendency to decrease the concentration of benz(a)pyrene in all soil samples and leaves of the plant has as distance from the highway. The authors give recommendations regarding the harvesting of leaves of the medicinal plant Plantago major L. in Ilyinsky district, which is advisable to grow at a distance of at least 500 m from the highway.