Evaluation of heavy metal pollution along Alamedin River in Bishkek/Kyrgyzstan using woody species, Populus nigra (black poplar) and Salix fragilis (crack willow)

Abstract Bishkek is the capital and the most populated city of Kyrgyzstan and home to small scale industrial plants. The city of Bishkek has started to suffer from a widespread pollution after showing a rapid industrial and economic development in recent years. In present work, woody species, Populus nigra (black poplar) and Salix fragilis (crack willow) chosen as study materials were used for monitoring research for the evaluation of heavy metal pollution. For the assessment of the rate of pollution in the region, the Al, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Ni, Pb and Zn contents of the parts of plants (leaves, stems and roots) and co-located soil samples collected from along Alamedin River passing through Bishkek were determined using ICP-OES. Our data showed that the levels of Cr, Fe, Ni and Pb were found to be above the allowable limits, especially in stations where located in the city in comparison with literature. This indicates that anthropogenic pressure in the city are getting being a serious problem.