Plant-assisted bioremediation of a historically PCB and heavy metal-contaminated area in Southern Italy

Heavy metal phytoremediation of a poplar clone in a contaminated soil in southern Italy

“…Finally, because the same site has been used as an illegal city dump, different kinds of waste have been accumulated over time contributing to the decline in the soil quality. A preliminary characterization of the experimental site performed in 2012 showed hot spots of PCB and a diffuse HM contamination . In April 2013 about 650 poplar cuttings were planted in a site sub‐area of 785 m 2 and three data campaigns have been carried out so far: March 2013: characterization campaign ( t 0 = before poplar planting), June 2014: first monitoring campaign ( t 1 = 420 days after poplar planting), November 2015: second monitoring campaign ( t 2 = 900 days after poplar planting), …”

“…Soil sampling was performed 30 months (900 days) after poplar planting in order to analyse HMs, microbial abundance, cell viability and dehydrogenase activity (DHA) of the soil microbial community. Soil samples were collected from the HM contaminated plots (P2, P3 and P4) following the sampling procedure reported in detail in Ancona et al . Briefly, soil samples were collected: at 0 cm from the trunk, around the roots (depth: 0–30 cm) as a rhizosphere sample (R); at 0.25 m distance (depths 0–20 and 20–40 cm); and finally, at 1 m distance from the trunk (depths: 0–20 and 20–40 cm).…”

“…The collection of the plant materials was performed in accordance with Ancona et al . ; the leaves and roots sampled were processed for the chemical investigations in accordance with the procedures proposed by Visoottiviseth et al . and Barillot et al ., respectively.…”

“…Soil sampling was performed 30 months (900 days) after poplar planting in order to analyse HMs, microbial abundance, cell viability and dehydrogenase activity (DHA) of the soil microbial community. Soil samples were collected from the HM contaminated plots (P2, P3 and P4) following the sampling procedure reported in detail in Ancona et al 48 Plant materials were also sampled from each plot studied: roots were collected from the rhizosphere (soil surrounding the root system ∼50 cm 2 around the trunk) and stems and leaves from the outer canopy located in the upper third of each target plant, corresponding to the area in which mineral elements are mainly stored because of the higher transpiration rates. 49 The collection of the plant materials was performed in accordance with Ancona et al; 48 the leaves and roots sampled were processed for the chemical investigations in accordance with the procedures proposed by Visoottiviseth et al 50 and Barillot et al, 51 respectively.…”

“…Recently, a selected Populus clone (Monviso clone), previously used to efficiently recover a contaminated soil from the pesticide lindane, has been applied to bioremediate a historically multi‐contaminated site located close the city of Taranto . A preliminary characterization of this area pointed to a diffuse contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and HMs.…”