Influence of Airborne Pollution on Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, and Al Accumulation and Physiological Parameters of Plant Leaves in Antakya (Turkey)

Abstract

In this study, the effects of industrial and urban pollution on Pb, Al, Cd, Cu, and Zn accumulation, peroxidase activity, and pigment and protein contents were investigated in shrub and tree leaves in Antakya, Turkey. We determined that industrial and traffic activities produce the most plant-incorporated air pollutants in Antakya City. Cu and Al amounts were high in plants in the urban street location and Cd, Pb, and Zn amounts where high for all plants in the industrial site. Acer negundo L. showed maximum Pb and Zn accumulation at the industrial site and Al accumulation for the urban street site. Higher Cd and Cu amounts were detected in Platanus orientalis L. and Nerium oleander L. in the industrial and urban street sites, respectively. Compared to the control site, decreases in pigment and total soluble protein contents and increases in peroxidase enzyme activity were more evident in industrial and urban street sites. Our results indicated that industry and urban air pollution is high in Antakya City and Pb pollution was at an especially alarming level for vegetation and human health.

Influence of Soil Chemistry and Plant Physiology in the Phytoremediation of Cu, Mn, and Zn

“…Trace metals may be taken up directly via the stomata or be deposited on the leaf surface (Schreck et al, 2012). Moreover, air to leaf accumulation of trace metals can cause various morphological, physiological and biochemical responses that may influence the phytoremediation process (Doganlar and Atmaca, 2011).…”

Metal accumulation and physiological responses induced by copper and cadmium in Lemna gibba, L. minor and Spirodela polyrhiza

“…POD activity was calculated using the extinction coefficient 25.5 mM −1 cm −1 . One unit activity was defined as an increase of 1 A min -1 (Birecka et al, 1973;Doganlar and Atmaca, 2011). Total POD activity was expressed as ∆A/g F.W.…”

“…Therefore, changes in the activity of these enzymes, especially POD, are used as sensitive biomarkers of abiotic and biotic stresses in plants (Gill and Tuteja, 2010;Gulsen et al, 2010;Doganlar and Atmaca, 2011). According to Gaspar et al (1985), lignification which is catalysed by peroxidases has an important role in the mechanical adaptation of plants to metal contamination.…”

“…Although Cu is essential for plant growth and development, it is toxic at high concentrations (30 ppm) (Kabata Pendias and Piotrowska, 1984). However, Cd has no known biological role in plants, and is harmful even in very low doses (Doganlar and Atmaca, 2011). These metals enter the aquatic environment through both natural (weathering of rocks) and anthropogenic (industrial effluents and agricultural runoffs) activities (Yilmaz and Parlak, 2011).…”

Untitled

“…The metal contamination is a major environmental problem as the metals in contaminated sediments may accumulate in the various organisms of the estuarine ecosystem and ultimately enter the food chain, thereby affecting the human well-being (Shakeri & Moore, 2010). The concentrations of heavy metals in the sediments usually exceed that of the overlying water (Zabetoglouet et al, 2002) and the high concentrations of these metals in water and sediments affect both plants and animals (Doganlar & Atmaca, 2011). The accumulation of heavy metals in the mangrove ecosystems has been reported and studied in a number of countries including China (Peng et al, 1997); Singapore (Cuong et al, 2005); Iran (Shirvani Mahdavi et al, 2012) and Oman (Keshavarz et al, 2012).…”