A Study of the Uptake of Heavy Metals by Plants near Metal-Scrap Dumpsite in Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

The research work investigates the metal uptake of the plantsLycopersicon esculentum(tomato),Rumex acetosa(sorrel), andSolanum melongena(garden egg) collected from experimental sites and a control area in Zaria, Nigeria. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, and Zn in different parts of each of the plant species grown on the experimental and control soils were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The experimental levels of the metals were higher than those at the control site and the limits recommended by Food and Agricultural Organisation/World Health Organisation (FAO/WHO).Solanum melongenashowed bioaccumulation factor (BF) and transfer factor (TF) greater than 1 for Cd, Pb, and Mn;Rumex acetosashowed BF and TF greater than 1 for Mn and Zn, and TF was greater than 1 for Cu and Fe;Lycopersicon esculentumhad only the TF for Fe, Pb, Mn, and Zn greater than 1. This results implies thatSolanum melongenaandRumex acetosaplants can be effectively used for phytoremediation of Cd, Pb, Mn, and Zn from the dumpsite. Pearson’s correlation coefficient values(r)were greater than 0.75 for all the metals studied which indicated that the high metal level in the experimental soil was a result of the metal-scrap.

Effect of Applying Sunflower Residues as a Green Manure on Increasing Zn Concentration of Two Iranian Wheat Cultivars in a Pb and Cd Polluted Soil

“…Organic carbon (OC) was measured by the Walkley-Black method [13]. The translocation factor (TF) was calculated using the following formula [14]: TF = Cshoot/Croot Where Cshoot and Croot are heavy metal concentrations in the shoot and root of the plant, respectively.…”

Uptake of Pb and Cd by Plant Species: A Review

“…Metalliferous soils are an exception as they naturally harbor extremely high concentrations of certain heavy metals [7; 16]. Anthropogenic activities such as mining, energy production, smelting, electroplating, sludge dumping, melting operations and agriculture have influenced greatly the concentration of heavy metals in areas beyond the critical-concentration [8,17,21]. Several technologies and interventions have been developed for treating metal contaminated soil.…”

“…Although these technologies are efficient, they are generally costly, labor-intensive and in some cases result in significant secondary damages or disturbance of the soil. In recent times, the use of plant (phytoremediation) in soil remediation has gained massive traction as it is an environmentally friendly and costeffective approach [10,21].…”

“…Phytoremediation refers to the use of plants to remove, transfer, stabilize and/or destroy contaminants in the soil or groundwater [21]. Phytoremediation strategies are phytofiltration, phytostabilization, phytoextraction, phytovolatilisation and phytodegradration [3,4,7].…”

“…Sebera Aciminate, Thlaspic Caerulescene, Arbidoposis thaliana, Typha Latifolia and Phragmtic austrials are also plant species capable of accumulating heavy metals in their tissues [7]. Plants that has a plant to soil ratio (bioaccumulation factor) and shoot to metal ratio (transfer factor) greater than 1 are termed hyperaccumulators [21]. Hyperaccumulators are capable of accumulating at least 1000mg/Kg of Cd, 1000mg/Kg of As, Cu, Pb, Ni, Co, Se, Cr or 10000mg/Kg of Mn or Zn [14,18].…”