Lead and Cadmium Content in Grass Growing Near An Expressway

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of distance from a road on lead and cadmium content in grass species near an expressway and to assess bioaccumulation of these elements by morphological parts of the plants. The material for the research was the following grass species in their flowering stage: Dactylis glomerata, Arrenatherum elatius, and Alopecurus pratensis. Plant samples were collected along the international E30 road, the ring-road of Siedlce, in May 2015. A 9-km road section was examined with samples collected on both sides, covering a stretch of 700 m, at the following distances from the edge of the road: 1, 5, 10, and 15 m. Five samples of each plant species and at each distance from the road were collected. Lead and cadmium concentration was determined with the AAS method. The largest amounts of Pb were absorbed by A. pratensis L. (3.843 mg kg−1DM), while the lowest by A. elatius L. (2.523 mg kg−1DM). Of the above plants, the highest amount of Cd (0.286 mg kg−1DM) was accumulated by D. glomerata L. Underground parts of the grass species accumulated greater amounts of Pb and Cd than aboveground parts. It indicates that considerable amounts of heavy metals released by expressway vehicles contaminated the soil. The highest content of Pb and Cd was found in the grass growing at a distance of 5 m from the edge of the roadway, and this applies both to underground and aboveground parts.

Particulate matter in the cultivation area may contaminate leafy vegetables with heavy metals above safe levels in Korea

“…3). The results are consistent with previous studies showing higher levels of Pb (El-Radaideh and Al-Taani 2018) and higher levels of lead content in plants and soil as close to highways (Hashim et al 2017; Jankowski et al 2019).

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“…One of the key indicators of the “better life index” in OECD countries is the concentration of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) (Mizobuchi 2014). The concentration of PM2.5, designated by the World Health Organization as group 1 carcinogen, varies depending on the country and region (Han et al 2016; Jeevanandam et al 2018; Kim 2018; Jankowski et al 2019).…”

Content of biogenic and toxic elements in the leaves of Deschampsia antarctica É. Desv. (Poaceae): a preliminary study

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Bioprospecting for Indigenous Ruderal Plants with Potentials for Phytoremediation of Soil Heavy Metals in the Southern Guinea Savanna of North Western Nigeria

“…However, above 'normal' concentrations of Cr was observed in most of the plant species sampled (Galfata et al, 2013). This may be a consequence of the high values observed in the soils or direct deposition from the atmosphere (Jankowski et al 2019). In addition to soil concentrations of metals, other factors that determine the uptake, translocation and accumulation of metals in plants include soil pH, cation exchange capacity, organic matter content, soil texture and interaction with other metals, as well as translocation factor (rate of movement of metals between root and shoot tissues) for the particular metal (…”