Phytoaccumulaton of metals in three different species of Šumadija region

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 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.