biostudies-literatureUnknown15(1)Anwar AThe assessment of heavy metal pollution in leaves and soils is essential in environmental health monitoring. We assessed the effect of anthropogenic activities along an industrial-urban-rural gradient in the roadside soil and tree leaves of Bangladesh based on their metal concentration. The concentrations of Pb, Cr, Ni, and Cd were analysed in leaves of Ficus benghalensis, Swietenia macrophylla, and Polyalthia longifolia and topsoil samples using ICP-OES. We used pollution indices to quantify the impact of contaminants on ecosystems. Our findings indicated that there were higher metal concentrations, especially Cd and Pb, in soil and leaves in close proximity to locations with substantial traffic and industrial activities. Igeo index indicated moderately to strongly polluted areas by Cd. TScientific reports6960https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11865477biostudies-literatureAssessment of anthropogenic activities impact based on metals in soil and tree leaves along roadside in Bangladesh.PMC11865477Sipos BSajtos ZParvez MSTotmeresz BMagura TBibi DAnwar AHasan MSSimon EMezbah Uddin AHMfalseAssessment of anthropogenic activities impact based on metals in soil and tree leaves along roadside in Bangladesh.The assessment of heavy metal pollution in leaves and soils is essential in environmental health monitoring. We assessed the effect of anthropogenic activities along an industrial-urban-rural gradient in the roadside soil and tree leaves of Bangladesh based on their metal concentration. The concentrations of Pb, Cr, Ni, and Cd were analysed in leaves of Ficus benghalensis, Swietenia macrophylla, and Polyalthia longifolia and topsoil samples using ICP-OES. We used pollution indices to quantify the impact of contaminants on ecosystems. Our findings indicated that there were higher metal concentrations, especially Cd and Pb, in soil and leaves in close proximity to locations with substantial traffic and industrial activities. Igeo index indicated moderately to strongly polluted areas by Cd. T2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Feb2025-04-18T12:54:51.149Z2025-04-06T22:16:53.326ZS-EPMC118654774001175810.1038/s41598-025-91683-9