| Abstract: | INTRODUCTION: Polluted soil is a widespread and serious environmental problem.
One of the first attempts for the assessment of environmental pollution coming from
exhaust gases of automobiles in traffic by using plants is based on the analyses of dif-
ferent trees, grasses, and different plants that grow near highways and cities. Biological
indicators have been used for many years to d... INTRODUCTION: Polluted soil is a widespread and serious environmental problem.
One of the first attempts for the assessment of environmental pollution coming from
exhaust gases of automobiles in traffic by using plants is based on the analyses of dif-
ferent trees, grasses, and different plants that grow near highways and cities. Biological
indicators have been used for many years to detect the deposition, accumulation and
distribution of heavy metal pollution. Uptake and accumulation of elements in plants
may follow different paths (the foliar surface and the root system). During the past
few decades there has been an increase in the use of higher plant as biomonitors of
heavy metal pollution in the terrestrial environment.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of 8 metals
in the soil and the selected plants of Šumadija region. Three different species have been
chosen for investigation of a possibility to accumulate and transport metals. Therefore,
the plants were selected from the area nearby the highway, at the point of entrance
to the city of Kragujevac. The following plants were studied: Matricaria inodora L.,
Achillea millefolium L., and Crepis setosa Haller fill.
METHOD / DESIGN: The determination of plant material was performed in the
laboratory of the Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science in Kragujevac,
with the help of standard keys for determination. The metal concentrations in plant
and soil samples were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS Pertkin
Elmer 3300), directly from the solution.
RESULTS: The following metals were identified in the soil in the descending or-
der of concentrations: Ca>Mg>Fe>Cr>Mn>Pb>Zn>Cu. Plant material contained the
Ca>Mg>Fe>Zn>Cr>Mn>Cu>Pb, also in the descending order.
Soil concentration of Cr was higher than all limiting values (the maximum allowed
concentration, limit and remedial value), while soil concentration of Pb was higher
than value that is allowed by legislation of Republic of Serbia.
The concentration of the metals in plants was variable, dependent on the plant spe-
cies and types of metals. Plant concentrations of Cr in all three investigated species
were higher than average and toxic values of Cr concentrations encountered in plant
material.
Higher values of Zn in the plant material then in the soil was found in the roots, stem
and whole plant of M. inodora and C. setosa. Root and leaf of A. millefolium contained
higher concentration of Zn then the soil. Species M. inodora and A. millefolium
showed good ability for translocation of Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn starting from
the root towards the leaf. The species C. setosa was involved in translocation only of
Cu. Quantity of Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu and Cr in all three studied species was higher in aerial
parts then in underground parts, while quantity of Pb was vice versa. The species C.
setosa showed good accumulation of a large variety of metals (Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn,
Pb, Cr), while A. millefolium had the best accumulation of Fe.
CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results indicate that all three studied species could
have application in bio-indicative methods (as bioindicators) and in accumulation of
the above mentioned metals. Further research could provide more information on use
of these plants in phyto-remediation. |
