Lead contamination in street soils of Nairobi City and Mombasa Island, Kenya

Roadside soils in inland and coastal urban environments of Kenya were analyzed for indications of lead contamination linked with automotive emissions. More than 170 soil samples were collected between Nairobi and Mombasa Isl during August December 1989. The mean Pb concentrations in Mombasa Isl and Nairobi roadside soils were in the respective ranges of 23 950 and 137 4088 mg/kg. Pb distribution profiles show that contamination levels of surface soil decline rapidly with distance from roads. Health hazard implications of elevated urban soil Pb levels in Kenya are discussed.