Heavy metals in road sediments have long term and far reaching environmental and health implications, and
identification of the sources is the first step to taking mitigating measures. Assessment of toxic metals in the
road sediments of Suleja streets was carried out. 30 samples were collected from seven selected streets. The
road sediment samples were digested with a mixture of H!O3 and HClO4 (2:1 v/v), and analyzed for the metals
Pb, Cu, Cr, Zn, Cd and !i using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Results showed that metal
concentrations (mg/kg dry weight) were in the following range: Zn (35.00 – 350.00), Pb (5.33 – 115.56), Cu
(2.71 – 171.76), !i (10.00 – 40.00), Cd (2.50 – 66.00), Cr (6.79 – 34.71). Multivariate statistical analysis
revealed that Pb and Cr were related to traffic, metal-work stations in the area led to elevated levels of Cd and
!i, while Cu and Zn were from dual origin of vehicular and industrial emissions