Among heavy metals of automotive origin the most dangerous are lead, cadmium, copper, and nickel. They accumulate in the soil and plants and thus are incorporated Pol. J. Environ. Stud. Vol. 24, No. 4 (2015), 1875-1879 Short Communication Limiting the Environmental Impact of Road Infrastructure through the Use of Roadside Vegetation Tomasz Słowik, Joanna Szyszlak-Bargłowicz*, Grzegorz Zając, Wiesław Piekarski Department of Power Engineering and Transportation, Faculty of Production Engineering, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Głęboka 28, 20-612 Lublin, Poland Received: 29 December 2014 Accepted: 16 March 2015 Abstract Green-belt shielding seems to be the right solution for protection against the spread of automotive environmental pollution, particularly when it comes to large areas. Roadside greenery fulfills a range of various functions – both natural and aesthetic, while also offering great potential for environmental protection. The aim of this study was to determine the content of zinc and copper in the soil collected from a roadside, as well as in soil collected from immediate surrounding areas where Virginia mallow (Sida hermaphrodita Rusby) was grown as a form of biological roadside screen barrier, and to examine how the vegetation in this area may limit the spread of automotive environmental pollution. Furthermore, the content of the researched elements in the separate parts of the plants (leaves, stems, roots) collected in varying proximity of the road was specified. The highest concentration of copper was found in the leaves and roots of the Virginia mallow, whereas that of zinc was in the leaves of the plant. Keywords: automotive environmental pollution, copper, zinc, roadside vegetation into the food chain, and subsequently gather in animal and human tissues [4]. These metals are often not excreted from the organisms, but are amassed within the bones, the kidneys, the liver, and the brain, contributing to the emergence of various diseases, including cancer. The content of these precise elements in soil along communication routes is most often monitored. It is also crucial to monitor the content of these elements in individual parts of the plants occurring in the areas of immediate vicinity to communication routes. Plants accumulate heavy metals in a variety of their organs – in the roots, leaves, or stems. It is therefore vital to determine the magnitude of the environmental risk of heavy metals resulting from communication pollution. All the undertaken actions allow the introduction of rational engineering solutions at the road design stage, which would increase environmental protection.