Transfer of Heavy Metals (Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn) from Roadside Soil to Ornamental Plants in Nanjing, China

Abstract

Roadside soil, dusts, and three ornamental plants-Begoniaceae (Begonia semperflorens Link et Otto), Tagetes (Tagetes erecta Linn.), and Salvia (Salvia splendens Ker-Gawle) were collected from urban arteries in Nanjing City, China. Concentrations of metals (Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn) were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma atom emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cd was the most important contaminant in roadside soil and dusts. Generally, Begoniaceae accumulated more metals than Tagetes and Salvia. The order of bioconcentration factor values for three kinds of plants were Cd > Cu > Zn > Pb, suggesting Cd was more easily accumulated by ornamental plants than Zn and Pb from soils to roots. The values of the translocation factor show the significant species specific characteristics on the ability of metals (Cd, Cu, Zn and Pb) translocation from roots to leaves. Begoniaceae was recommended as a bioindicator of heavy metals in the urban environment.

Trace Elements in Edible Flowers from Italy: Further Insights into Health Benefits and Risks to Consumers

“…In our study, high concentrations of several elements, in particular Cd, Co, Mn, Ni, and Pb, were measured in the flowers of Begonia cucullata var. cucullata , Tagetes erecta and S. splendens : it has to be noted that Ding and Hu [ 100 ], in their study on the potential of ornamental plants as bioindicators in urban environments, had recommended these three species on the basis of the levels of metals in leaves and roots. The higher concentrations of Co, Cu, Sr and Zn observed in the flowers of O. basilicum can be related to the capacity of accumulating several metals in the shoot and roots of plants grown in natural and contaminated soils [ 101 ].…”

Sustainable Agriculture Reviews

“…Several ornamental plants have been successfully applied in environmental toxic cleanup ) (Abad et al 2001;Bosiacki 2009a, b;Ding and Hu 2012). For e.g.…”

The use of silica gel modified with allyl 6-methyl-4-phenyl-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate for selective separation and preconcentration of lead in environmental samples

“…The World Health Organization recommended a limit of 10 μg L −1 of lead in drinking water (Baird 1999), which requires a very sensitive measurement technique. Currently, the most common analytical methods for the lead trace determination are flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) (Dos Santos et al 2004;Silva and Roldan 2009;Soylak et al 2006;Tokalioglu et al 2009;Tuzen et al 2006), electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (Martinis et al 2010;Jiang and Hu 2008;Liang et al 2008;Minami et al 2005), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry , and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (Diedjibegovic et al 2012;Diang and Hu 2012). FAAS is still being used because it combines a fast analysis time, a relative simplicity and a cheaper cost.…”