Heavy metals in plants in constructed and natural wetlands: concentration, accumulation and seasonality

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 268-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Vymazal ◽  
T. Březinová

The accumulation of heavy metals in plants is a function of uptake capacity and intracellular binding sites. The concentrations of heavy metals in plants growing in constructed wetlands vary considerably between species and systems but in general, the concentrations are within the range commonly found in natural stands. The highest concentrations are mostly found in roots, followed by rhizomes, leaves and stems. Unfortunately, concentration values are commonly used to evaluate the ‘accumulation’ of heavy metals, but this approach is not correct. In order to evaluate heavy metal accumulation, the biomass of particular plant parts must be taken into consideration. In addition, there are two other factors, which need to be taken into consideration when accumulation is evaluated, namely seasonality and distribution within the plant shoot. It has been found that the seasonal distribution of heavy metals in the biomass varies between heavy metals and mostly does not follow the pattern known for nutrients. In addition, the concentration and accumulation of heavy metals vary considerably within the shoot and this fact should be taken into consideration when analyses are carried out.

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elijah Abakpa Adegbe ◽  
Oluwaseyi Oluwabukola Babajide ◽  
Lois Riyo Maina ◽  
Shola Elijah Adeniji

Abstract Background Heavy metal accumulation in the ecosystem constitutes a potential toxic effect which is hazardous to human health. Increasing environmental pollution has necessitated the use of cattle egrets to evaluate the levels of heavy metal contamination, to establish their use in biomonitoring of heavy metals and to provide data for monitoring pollution in the environment. Results The present study assessed the utilization of Bubulcus ibis in monitoring pollution in five abattoirs, namely Agege, Bariga, Kara, Itire and Idi-Araba, all situated in Lagos State. The concentration of five (5) heavy metals, cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) was determined in the liver, muscle and feather of Bubulcus ibis using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The trend of metal accumulation was in the order: Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd > Ni for all the sampled tissues. The mean tissue concentrations of the metals were significantly different (p < 0.05) among the sites. The highest levels of metal concentration were reported in the liver in all the locations. Mean concentration of Cd in Kara (0.003 ± 0.00058) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those found at Agege (0.0013 ± 0.00058) and Idi-Araba (0.001 ± 0.001). A significant difference (p < 0.05) was also observed between the mean concentrations of Cu in Bariga (0.01 ± 0.001) and Idi-Araba (0.003 ± 0.001). Conclusion All the studied heavy metals were present in the liver, muscle and feathers of the cattle egrets. The contamination levels were ascertained from the study which indicated that cattle egrets are useful in biomonitoring studies and the generated data will serve as baseline data which could be compared with data from other locations for monitoring heavy metal pollution.


2021 ◽  
Vol 912 (1) ◽  
pp. 012044
Author(s):  
Wahyudi ◽  
T A Barus ◽  
S Ilyas

Abstract Lake Lau Kawar is one of the exposed areas in North Sumatra by the volcanic ash originating from Mount Sinabung eruption. The lake has been utilized as a tourism site and fish resources for consumption by the local community. Keperas (Cyclocheilichthys apogon Val. 1842) is one of the native fish commonly caught by the community. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of selected heavy metals such as copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) accumulated by C. apogon and the ones present in the lake water. The results showed that Zn present in the highest concentration followed by Cu and Pb as similar to the results from bioconcentration factor (BCF). All heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn) exhibited their highest concentrations in the gills, while the muscles possessed the lowest concentrations of all metals. Risk assessment based on the national and internasional standard revealed that the concentration of these metals was relatively low and safe for consumption.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-90
Author(s):  
Samar Mortazavi ◽  
◽  
Masoud Hatamimanesh ◽  
Farzad Veysanlou ◽  
◽  
...  

Background: The present study investigated the concentrations of lead, nickel, copper, zinc, their toxicity potential, and their ecological hazard in surface soils of Hamedan City, Iran. Also, using the Bio-concentration Factor (BCF), concentration Comprehensive Bio-concentration Index (CBCI), and Metal Accumulation Index (MAI), was evaluated the ability of some tree and shrub species to absorb heavy metals in soil and air. Methods: Sampling of leaves of nine tree species and shrubs (plane, acacia, elm, willow, mulberry, ash, redbud, pine, and cypress) was performed in six stations. After preparation and acid digestion of the samples, the concentrations of heavy metals were determined using an atomic absorption spectrometer. Results: The trend of changes in soil heavy Mean±SD metal concentrations was in the order of nickel> zinc> copper> lead in the amounts of 61.41±11.34˃ 43.04±14.4˃ 42.87±8.36˃ 18.77±6.51 mg/kg. Evaluation of acute toxicity potential indicators and ecological risk of heavy metals indicated low soil pollution status. Findings of BCF, CBCI, and MAI ndices in the leaves of the species showed that the highest levels of BCF of heavy metals, i.e., zinc, copper, lead, and nickel, were in willow, elm, cypress, and pine species, respectively. Results show that heavy metal accumulation in different species. Conclusion: Depends on soil type, tree species, climatic conditions, type of pollutant source, species age, and other factors. In this study, elm and acacia have the highest ability to absorb heavy metals from soil and air.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-294
Author(s):  
Md Akhter Hossain Chowdhury ◽  
Tanzin Chowdhury ◽  
Md Arifur Rahman

Heavy metal accumulation in environmental compartments is a potential risk to the living system because of their uptake by plants and subsequent introduction into the food chain. A study was carried out to investigate the heavy metal contents in industrially contaminated soils collected from six different locations of Dhaka and Mymensingh districts and their effects on two important vegetables namely tomato and cabbage. Pot experiment was conducted using contaminated soils at the net house of Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Mymensingh following completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates. The higher level of heavy metal contents was found in the soil samples of Hajaribag and Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ). The highest Ni, Cd, Cr, Cu and Fe contents were 59.45, 18.79, 67.57, 40.81 and 1619.61 µg g−1 which were much above the recommended level except Cu contents. The highest yield of vegetables was obtained grown in Maskanda soil of Mymensingh district and the lowest from DEPZ soil of Dhaka. The highest Ni, Cr and Fe contents were 8.91, 7.22, 419.65 µg g−1, respectively in tomato fruits grown in the soil of Hajaribag whereas the highest Cu content (3.38 µg g−1) was obtained from Seedstore soil, Mymensingh and highest Cd content (2.88 µg g−1) was from Mitford ghat soil, Dhaka. In cabbage, the highest Ni (17.52 µg g−1) and Fe (411.25 µg g−1) contents were found in the soils of DEPZ whereas the highest Cr (9.17 µg g−1), Cd (3.52 µg g−1) and Cu (8.51 µg g−1) were obtained in the plants grown in the soils of Hajaribag, Mitford ghat and Maskanda, respectively. Concentrations of all the tested heavy metals except Cu in both vegetables were above the maximum allowable limit prescribed by the World Health Organization. Among the metals, the accumulation of Ni was found as higher amount (0.39 and 0.71 for tomato and cabbage, respectively) based on plant concentration factor or transfer factor. The results showed a positive correlation between concentration of the metals present in soils and in vegetables and the highest correlation was found with Cr in tomato and Fe in cabbage. However, both the soils and grown vegetables were consistently observed to pose a risk to human health. So, it can be recommended that government should take necessary action so that heavy metals used in the industries cannot come into the nearby agricultural field to ensure food safety as well as food security. J Bangladesh Agril Univ 17(3): 288–294, 2019


Author(s):  
Francesco Lombardi ◽  
Giulia Costa ◽  
Maria Chiara Di Lonardo ◽  
Alessio Lieto

This work evaluated and compared potential impacts related to the accumulation and/or release of heavy metals resulting from the application of different types of stabilized waste to soil. Namely, the following three types of flows were considered: waste produced by aerobic bio-stabilization of municipal solid waste at a Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) plant, and compost produced either from aerobic composting or from a combination of anaerobic and aerobic biodegradation processes. After a preliminary characterization of the materials (organic matter content, volatile solid, and heavy metals content), heavy metal accumulation in soil caused by possible long-term application of these organic materials was evaluated by implementing a discretized mass balance based on the total content of the heavy metals in each type of solid matrix investigated. In addition, results of percolation leaching tests performed on each type of material were presented and discussed. Results highlight that although the total content of heavy metals of the three types of materials differed considerably, with the MBT waste presenting the highest concentrations, the results of the leaching percolation tests were quite similar.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (01) ◽  
pp. 65-76
Author(s):  
Saima Kausar ◽  
Shahla Faizan ◽  
Irfana Haneef

Use of wastewater for irrigation is on the rise in India and other developing countries. Wastewater contains plant nutrients that favour crop growth but leave a burden of heavy metals which can enter the food chain and is a cause of great concern. This study was conducted to explore the possibility of using wastewater to grow four vegetables fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and carrot (Daucus carotaL.). Two aspects namely (1) effect on plant growth and yield (2) accumulation of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in leaves and roots of the plant have been presented in this paper. The physico-chemical analysis of the wastewater showed that it was rich in total suspended and dissolved solids with large amount of BOD and COD. The higher amount of Cl-, Ca++, Mg++ and K+ were also present in the effluent. The heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) content in wastewater is comparatively more than groundwater (GW). The values of these heavy metals were slightly higher in the soil irrigated with wastewater. The effluent severely affects crop plants and soil properties when used for irrigation. The growth characteristics (plant length, plant fresh and dry weight, leaf number and leaf area) as well as yield characteristics (seed number, 1000 seed weight and seed yield) of all the plants, irrigated with 100% wastewater, were more than that with groundwater. The pattern of increase for the plants was fenugreek greater than radish greater than spinach greater than carrot. Though the wastewater contains low levels of the heavy metals, the soil and plant samples show higher values due to accumulation, but their level was under permissible limits in plants. The trend of metal accumulation in wastewater-irrigated soil is in the order: Pb greater than Ni greater than Zn greater than Cu greater than Cr greater than Cd. Of the four plants that are grown, the order of total heavy metal accumulation in roots is Carrot greater than Radish, while in leaves the order is Spinach greater than Fenugreek. The enrichment factor (EF) of the heavy metals in contaminated soil is in the sequence of Ni (3.1) greater than Pb (2.6) greater than Cd (2.35) greater than Zn (2.18) greater than Cu (1.66) greater than Cr (1.05), while in plants EF varies depending upon the species and plant part. Radish and carrot show a high transfer factor (TF greater than 1) for Cd signifying a high mobility of Cd from soil to plant whereas the TF values for Pb are very low as it is not bioavailable. Thus, it may be concluded that wastewater may be used profitably for the cultivation of these vegetables and could effectively supplement not only the nutrient requirement of the crop but may also act as the source of water..


2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abida Begum ◽  
M. Ramaiah ◽  
Harikrishna ◽  
Irfanulla Khan ◽  
K. Veena

Assessment of heavy metal content in litchens and soil samples from various localities of Hosur Road, Bangalore south was undertaken. Topsoil samples (0-10 cm) were taken at various locations, the metals analysed were Cr, Pb, Fe, Zn, Ni and Cu. The geoaccumulation index of these metals in the soils under study residential areas indicated that they are uncontaminated with Ni, Zn, and Fe and moderately contaminated with Cr and Pb. In Industrial areas and traffic junctions the concentration of Fe, Pb and Ni was maximum. Heavy metal accumulation in few prominent lichens of some localities was analysed. Cr and Pb were maximum inChrysothrix candelaris(L.) Laundon, at the gardens of Madiwala and Silk Board junction with 95.29 and 623.95 µg g–1dry weight respectively. Fe and Cu were maximum inBulbothrix isidiza(Nyl.). Hale andPyxine petricolaNyl at Central Prison campus and Kendriya Sadan campus with 22721 and 338.12 µg g–1dry weight respectively,Lecanora perplexaBrodo at Infosis and Wipro Campus, electronic city have 531.5 and 634 µg g–1dry weight of Zn. While Ni and Fe were maximum in Arthopyreniaceae at Shanti Niketan of MICO Limited with 1100 and 23200 µg g–1dry weight respectively.


2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-29
Author(s):  
Jehan Bakht ◽  
Rafi Ullah ◽  
Mohammad Shafi

 The present study investigates the phyto-accumulation capacity of two cultivars of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) for heavy metals. Analysis of the data recorded ten weeks after sowing indicated that heavy metal application had significantly (p<0.05) affected all the parameters under study. Interaction of EDTA x cultivar and EDTA x cultivar x heavy metal had significantly (p<0.05) affected root fresh weight, root dry weight and heavy metal accumulation. EDTA application had significant (p<0.05) effect on heavy metal accumulation when data was noted ten weeks after sowing. The data also revealed that maximum plant height, number of leaves/plant, shoot fresh weight and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight was noted in control pots (0 mg/kg heavy metal). The suggested that maximum shoot fresh weight shoot dry weight, root fresh weight and root dry weight was noted in pots kept at control with San Sun-33 when applied with 5 mM EDTA. Similarly, maximum heavy metal accumulation was recorded in treatment sown of HiSun-33 applied with 5 mM EDTA and 50 mM chromium. Maximum root fresh weight was noted in control pots treated with 5 mM EDTA and planted with San Sun-33. Similarly, heavy metal accumulation was more in HiSun-33 treated with 50 mg/kg chromium and 5 mM EDTA. In terms of accumulation of heavy metals, HiSun-33 demonstrated better accumulation of the tested heavy metals then SanSun-33, anyhow the growth of SanSun-33 was better than HiSun-33 due to lesser accumulation of heavy metals.  


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narin Printarakul ◽  
Weeradej Meeinkuirt

Abstract Huay Pah Lahd stream in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Thailand, is potentially vulnerable to nearby anthropogenic activities. In this study, we determined heavy metal accumulation in bryophyte tissue and their growth substrates. Enrichment factors (EFs) of heavy metals were employed to monitor concentrations in bryophyte tissue. Of eight bryophyte taxa investigated, Scopelophila cataractae showed the highest capacity to accumulate metals in tissue, particularly Fe, Zn, Cd and Cu in protonemata (8,026.7, 1,187.2, 16.9 and 530.1 mg kg-1, respectively). Furthermore, the endangered and rare bryophyte taxa S. cataractae and Porella acutifolia were found intermingled with other urban and common aquatic bryophytes. These taxa might be considered sensitive warning organisms for heavy metal stress in stream ecosystems induced by environmental pollution. Because EFs of all heavy metals were < 2, this suggests that natural processes are the key source of heavy metals; furthermore, the environment of this National Park was identified as being heathy, and an important ecosystem buffer and biodiversity haven.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 1336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuyao Jin ◽  
Yaning Luan ◽  
Yangcui Ning ◽  
Lingyan Wang

The use of microbes to change the concentration of heavy metals in soil and improve the ability of plants to deal with elevated metals concentrations has significant economic and ecological benefits. This paper reviews the origins and toxic effects of heavy metal pollution in soil, and describes the heavy metal accumulation mechanisms of microbes, and compares their different bioconcentration abilities. Biosorption, which depends on the special structure of the cell wall, is found to be the primary mechanism. Furthermore, Escherichia coli are found to adsorb more heavy metals than other species. Factors influencing microbial treatment of wastewater and soil containing heavy metals include temperature, pH, and different substrates. Finally, problems in the application of microbial treatment of heavy metal contamination are considered, and possible directions for future research are discussed.


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