Distribution and Transport of Heavy Metals in Rice Plants in the Jiujiang River Basin

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS)was used to analyze the distribution and migration of heavy metals in rice plants in the Jiujiang River Basin,to evaluate the distribution of heavy metals in rice plants and to analyze their migration.The results showed that the distribution of different heavy metal elements in various tissues of rice plants varied greatly.The heavy metal migration factor of rice plant stems and leaves was significantly higher than that of rice husk and brown rice.The distribution of heavy metal content in rice in the Jiujiang River can provide a certain theoretical basis and reference value for the safety and quality of rice in the Jiujiang River Basin.

Accumulation behavior of heavy metals by Bidens pilosa L.from metallurgical slag:effects on plant physiology and absorption characteristics

Many of the abandoned mining and industrial land in villages and towns are seriously polluted by heavy metals in China,it is necessary for sustainable development to adopt efficient and economical ways to restore the ecology of abandoned mining and industrial land.Pollution level of topsoil contaminated with metallurgical slag from nonferrous metal smelting waste site in Baoding,North China and the heavy metals(HMs)accumulation behavior of Bidens pilosa L.(B.pilosa,native pioneer plant)were studied.Two selected study sites were mainly contaminated by As(270~434 mg/kg),Cd(63~95 mg/kg),Pb(5496~24504 mg/kg)and Zn(4500~21300 mg/kg),which exceed the national standard severely.Investigation of multi-metal accumulation in different parts of B.pilosa indicated that the absorption of toxic metals varied by types,concentration and species of HMs under stress conditions,soil property and plant tissues.The results showed that B.pilosa had excellent ability to accumulate HMs under different HMs stress condition,with the highest accumulation concentration of 85 mg/kg for As,380 mg/kg for Cd,4000 mg/kg for Pb,and 7500 mg/kg for Zn in roots under experimental conditions,respectively.The growth trend of B.pilosa declined with the increase of HMs stress concentration in tested soils.HMs stress led to different degrees of plant toxicity and obstruction of physiological metabolism.Among the plant physiological index,Chla and ChlT decreased 28.0%and 28.1%,37.3%and 35.5%under different stress treatments,respectively.Indicators related to physiological metabolic strength and stress resistance of plant,such as MDA(Malondiadehyde),CAT(catalase),SOD(superoxide dismutase)and SP(soluble protein),all increased with the increase of HMs stress concentration.

Determination of Metal Content in Soil and Wheat Plant by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

This study aims to investigate the level of soil pollution and the grade of accumulation of metals and heavy metals by wheat plants from the soil in different parts of the crop: root, stem, leaf, spike and grain. Sampling campaigns took place in February, April and July when wheat plants were at different growth stages. A number of eight soil samples and eight wheat plant samples were collected. The sampled wheat plant was taken at the same time and from the same place as the soil. Concentrations of Al (aluminium), Cr (chromium), Mn (manganese), Fe (iron), Ni (nickel), Co (cobalt), Cu (copper), Zn (zinc), Sr (strontium), Cd (cadmium) and Pb (lead) were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Bioconcentration and translocation factors were calculated for the samples analysed.

Current Seasonal Variations in Physicochemical and Heavy Metals Parameters of Sewage Treatment Plant Effluent and Suitability for Irrigation

The study aims to investigate the current extent of physicochemical parameters and heavy metal contamination in the effluent of the Jaganpur sewage treatment plant (STP), Dayalbagh, Agra India. Majority of the nearby farmers have access to use of STP effluent in irrigation purposes for growing major edible crops. The problems of using STP effluent for irrigation purpose, continuous water quality analysis required. To check the quality of irrigation water, substantial physicochemical parameters accordance to Indian Standards (IS-Reaffirmed 2002/2003) analysed to calculate Sodium absorption ratio (SAR) and Residual sodium carbonate (RSC). To estimate the heavy metal pollution index (HPI) and metal quality index (MQI), toxic Heavy metals such as As, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pd, Cd, Co, and B also determined in the STP effluent with an AAS and results verified with ICP-OES against certified standards. The high value of SAR (range 13 to 20) and RSC (range -10 to 11) in STP effluent exceeded the permissible limit for irrigation purpose. On the other hand, HPI and MQI values (1692.4 and 58.1, respectively) show that high metal contamination mainly due to industrial and domestic wastewater does not treat appropriately in the sewage treatment plant. Thus it is suggested that further studies are carried out on the STP effluents to improve the water quality through proper treatment. Treated wastewater used for irrigation purposes needs to analyse the contamination like heavy metals and pinpoint the pollution sources.

Adsorption Ability of Green Plants to Heavy Metals in the Atmosphere of Binzhou City

Through exploring the cumulative contents of Pb, Cu and Cd, the 3 common heavy metals in air pollution, in leaves of some widely-applied green plants in different functional areas in urban districts of Binzhou City, this paper figured out its relationship with functional areas in the city, and whether green plants are selective in adsorbing heavy metals or not. The research found that cumulative content of Cu and Cd varied greatly in leaves of the same species in different functional areas, and also in leaves of different species in the same area. Populus tomentosa and Sophora japonica had the strongest capacity of adsorbing Pb, Cu and Cd in the air, which is a useful reference for the urban landscaping of Binzhou City.

Heavy metals distribution in fly ash from gangue power plant

To make assessment on its environmental security, fly ash samples were collected from the gangue power plant. Total content of heavy metals in sieved fly ash were analytically determined. We also carried out Tessier extractive experiments to check the chemical species of heavy metals. Experiment results show that the content of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd ascend when particle size is smaller. Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd obviously enrich in particulate fly ash. The chemical species of heavy metal distribution ranking sequence generally is residual〉organic combinative〉Fe-Mn oxide combinative〉carbonate combinative〉ion-exchangeable. Lead＇s amiable-move species were high in proportion, amounted to 35%. Total content of Cadmium is at low level, but its ion-exchangeable species is relatively high in proportion. Nickel and zinc is mainly distributed in residue. Cu is mainly distributed in residue and organic combinative form. The content of manganese is relatively high in fly ash, and the carbonate combinative iron-manganese oxide combinative species are main chemical form. Cr is mainly distributed in residue, and its other chemical species are at low level. Compared with the soil background value of study area and Shandong Province, the content of Cu, Ni, Zn, Mn and Cr in fly ash of gangue power plant is lower. While contents of Pb and Cd were higher than background value, and amiable-move species is relatively high in proportion. They are more apt to cause heavy metal pollution.

Effects of Planting Methods on Levels of Common Pesticides and Heavy Metals in Dendrobium officinale

The levels of common pesticides and heavy metals in Dendrobium officinale grown from 2012 to 2014 were measured, and three planting methods were used in 2014. The quality of plant husbandry improved during the study period. Thirteen types of pesticides were detected in D. officinale grown in 2014 and antimicrobials, including carbendazim, difenoconazole and azoxystrobin, were evident in 61.53% of plants. These three pesticides constituted 72.33% of all the antimicrobials detected. Planting methods affected the levels of pesticides and heavy metals. Trellising in plastic sheds was optimal, being associated with the lowest amounts of both pesticides and heavy metals. Both cadmium（Cd） and lead（Pb） levels were high in treed plants, whereas Cr, As and Cu levels were the highest in potted plants.

Peculiarities of Heavy Metals Accumulation by the Plants of Meadow Phytocenosis

This work is devoted to studying of the accumulation peculiarities of heavy metals (HM) by the meadow phytocenosis plants and also plants phytomeliotating properties at various levels of soil contamination. The system “cespitose-podsol soil – meadow vegetation” has been chosen as a research object. Heavy metals as a kind of industrial waste-galvanic slurry enriched by zinc amounting 79.7% of all HM detected in the slurry-was introduced into the soil. Heavy metals content and redistribution in soil at various amount of galvanic slurry, quantitative and specific content of phytocenosis, heavy metals accumulation in the meadow vegetation crop at various contamination layers have been studied during research. Among the researched phytocenosis the groups of plants with high and low heavy metals accumulation capacity have been defined. Cirsium arvense, Capsella bursapastoris, Artemisia vulgarus and Rumex confertus belonged to the group accumulating several heavy metals in considerable amounts without significant phytomass loss. The majority of these plants possess developed phytomass and their ability to accumulate heavy metals in large amount allows using them as phytomeliorants for soil decontamination at the final stages of reclaiming.

A Study of Heavy Metals in the Dust Fall around Assiut Fertilizer Plant

A study of an environmental assessment of dust fall and the associated heavy metal contents was conducted during the period from the first of March 2011 to the end of February 2012 at adjoining area of a phosphate fertilizer plant. Around the industrial area 8 dust fall stations were established and one of them was built upwind far from pollution activities to be taken as a control sample. Dust fall samples collected monthly weighed and then prepared to be analyzed through Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) to obtain heavy metal concentration. Meteorological parameters influencing the distribution of dust fall such as wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, rain fall and pressure were determined. Results showed that deposition flow rates were 38.2. 47.5, 57.7, 44.3, 39.4, 38.2, 42.7 and 5.9 g/m2·month for the sites No., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 respectively, and were compared with the findings of other investigators of like industrial areas worldwide. Levels of heavy metal As, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Hg in the deposited dust fall were 3.30, 26.46, 22.33, 235.00, 4.53 and 3.80 μg/g respectively. Enrichment coefficients of the heavy metals in the dust fall were found to be significant and reached the values 1.81, 0.90, 0.85, 0.65, 0.41 and 0.35 for zinc, lead, cadmium, copper, mercury and arsenic respectively. The paper ends with results and recommendations suggesting a methodology to remediate the investigated area polluted with heavy metals and control measures for the fertilizer plant to reduce pollution into the surrounding environment.

The Improvement of Phytomediation on the Treatment Effectiveness of Heavy Metals with Energy Sunflower Plants with Calcium Peroxide and Phytohormones

Phytomediation is an environmentally friendly green rehabilitation technology that is often incorporated with an application to improve calcium peroxide and phytohormones required for the growth of agricultural plants with the expectation to improve the effectiveness of plant rehabilitation. This study mainly consists of two parts: 1) water culture experiment and 2) pot culture experiment. In the water culture experiment, we attempt to understand the influence of the addition of calcium peroxide, phytohormones (IAA and GA3) and a chelating agent on the growth of sunflower plants. From the growth, we are then able to know the effectiveness of the addition of phytohormones. However, in the pot culture experiment, when hormones and the chelating agent EDTA are introduced to different plant groups at the same time, if the nutrition in the water required by plants is not available, the addition of the hormone cannot negate the toxicity caused by EDTA. In terms of calcium peroxide, due to quick release of oxygen in water, this study fails to apply calcium peroxide to the water culture experiment. When the pot culture experiment is used to examine the influence of hormones at different concentration levels on the growth of sunflowers, GA3 10-8 M is reported to have the optimal effectiveness, followed by IAA 10-8 M;IAA 10-12 M has the lowest effectiveness. According to an accumulation analysis of heavy metals at different levels, GA3 concentrates in leaves to transport nutrition in soil to leaves. This results in an excellent TF value of 2.329 G of GA3 than 1.845 of the control group indicating that the addition of the hormone and chelating agent to GA3 increases the TF value and the chelating agent is beneficial to the sunflower plant. If we examine phytoattenuation ability, the one-month experiment was divided into three stages for ten days each. The concentration level of heavy metals in the soil at each stage dropped continuously while that of the control group decreased from 31.63 mg/kg to 23.96 mg/kg, GA3 from 32.09 mg/kg to 23.04 mg/kg and EDTA from 30.65 mg/kg to 25.93 mg/kg indicating the quickest growth period of the sunflowers from the formation of the bud to blossom. During the stage, the quick upward transportation of nutrition results in quick accumulation of heavy metals;the accumulated speed of heavy metals is found higher than that of directly planted plants. This study shows an improvement in the effectiveness of the addition of hormones on plant extraction and when rehabilitation is incorporated with sunflowers with the beginning bud formation, better treatment effectiveness can be reached.

Examination of the Level of Heavy Metals in Wastewater of Bandar Abbas Wastewater Treatment Plant

One of the main environmental pollutants is heavy metals. Due to extensive usage in industry, these metals enter biological cycle rapidly and contaminated water and soil resources rapidly. In this work, lead, copper, zinc and chromium of Bandar Abbas wastewater are examined. For this research, nine stations were set for measurement in urban level in Bandar Abbas and sampling of aforesaid metals was performed in fall and winter 2006 in these stations. After extraction and preparation operations using APDC-MIBK, samples were measured using flame atomic absorption system. According to results, concentrate of studied metals was lower than allowable standard value set by Iran environmental protection organization for agricultural purposes and sewage to ground level waters. In addition, efficiency of Bandar Abbas wastewater treatment plant to remove these metals is 40% - 70% from which highest removal is for zinc as much as 71.1% and lowest level is for copper as much as 40.5%. However, copper level was higher than allowable level for agricultural purposes in spring and summer (0.21 mg/L and 0.23 mg/L, respectively) and lower in fall and winter (0.103 mg/L and 0.098 mg/L, respectively). Furthermore, changes in concentration of metals in these stations in various seasons were measured and analyzed using one-way variance analysis and simultaneous effects of time and place on measured variables were analyzed using two-way variance analysis.

Total concentrations and different fractions of heavy metals in sewage sludge from Guangzhou, China

Dewatered municipal sludge samples were collected from five municipal wastewater treatment plants （WWTPs） and one industrial WWTP in Guangzhou, China. A number of agricultural parameters and total metal concentrations in the sludge were determined. Metal speciation was also studied. The results showed that sewage sludge had high organic carbon, and was rich in such nutrients as N and P. The concentrations of Mn, Zn, and Cu were the highest, followed by Ni, Pb, and Cr, Cd had the lowest concentration. In addition, the concentrations of the aforementioned heavy metals in the sludge samples were higher than those recorded in the background data for crop soils. With the exception of Cu and Cd from site S1, and Ni from sites S1, $2, and $5, all other metal concentrations conformed to permissible levels prescribed by the national application standard of acid soil in China （GB 18918--2002）. The results of the BCR sequential extraction showed that the concentrations of Mn and Zn were predominant in acid-soluble/exchangeable and reducible fractions. Cu was principally distributed in oxidizable and residual fractions, whereas Cr was present in oxidizable and residual fractions, Pb was found in the state of residual fractions, and the distribution of Ni and Cd did not show significant characteristics.

Heavy metal concentrations in plants and soils at roadside locations and parks of urban Guangzhou

Levels ofCu, Ni, Zn, Pb and Cr were measured in soils and trees in urban Guangzhou, China. Tree and soil samples were collected from the roadside, urban parks and a university campus. Mean concentrations of Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb and Cr in tree leaves were 28.3, 7.7, 142.1, 23.4, and 195.1 mg/kg respectively. In a comparison of heavy metal concentrations in tree leaves between roads and park locations, only Pb concentrations were significantly higher in the former. Heavy metal concentrations were lower in the roots compared to leaves. It indicated that heavy metal pollution of trees is mainly from air pollution, For all top soil samples the mean concentrations of Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb and Cr were 24.3, 17.3, 121.5, 63.9 and 88.7 mg/kg, respectively. Heavy metal concentrations in roadside soils were higher and their coefficient of variation was higher than those in urban parks. Comparing heavy metal concentrations in trees and soil between urban Guangzhou and Hainan Island, China, Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb and Cr levels in soils and plants in urban Guangzhou were evidently affected by the human impact. However the heavy metal content in the soil compared to some international standards do not give cause for concern. Some observations on the implications of the data for environmental monitoring are made.

Heavy Metal Accumulation in Plants on Mn Mine Tailings

The Xiangtan Manganese (Mn) Mine in the middle of Hunan Province, China, has been mined since 1913 with mine tailings including excavated wastes, wastewater, and smelting wastes. A survey was conducted on the Mn mine tailing soils and eight plants on the Mn mine tailings. The concentrations of soil Mn, Pb, and Cd and the metal-enrichment traits of these eight plants were analyzed simultaneously. Exceptionally high concentrations of these three metals were found in the soils, especially on the tailing dam. Each plant investigated in this study accumulated the three heavy metals, but no hyperaccumulator of these metals was found. However, analysis indicated that Poa pratensis Linn., Gnaphalium affine D. Don, Pteris vittata L., Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq., and Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. possessed specially good metal-enrichment and metal-tolerant traits. P. pratensis, G. affine, and P. vittata were Pb-tolerant plants; and C. canadensis, P. pratensis, and G. affine were Cd-tolerant plants. P. acinosa had a great tolerance to Mn. and it was a valuable plant for on-site phytoremediation. Phragmites communis Trin. was found to have high metal tolerance and economic benefit as a raw material for paper and should be considered for soil remediation. G. affine and C. canadensis had excessive accumulation of Mn and could be useful in phytoremediation. However, although P. pratensis was a good accumulator, it was not a suitable plant for soil remediation because its biomass was too little.

Heavy Metal Accumulation in Medicinal Plants Collected from Environmentally Different Sites

Objective To estimate the heavy metal content in soil and selected medicinal plants procured from environmentally different sites of the same city. Methods Soil and plant samples of Abutilon indicum, Calotropis procera, Euphorbia hirta, Peristrophe bycaliculata, and Tinospora cordifolia were collected from 3 environmentally different sites of the city： heavy traffic area （HTA）, industrial area （IA）, and residential area （RA）. Pb by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry and compared Cd, Cr, and Ni were estimated in soil and plant samples Results The level of heavy metal was higher in soil than in plant parts studied. Accumulation of heavy metals varied from plant to plant. Pb was the highest in Calotropis procera root from HTA site and the lowest in Peristrophe bycaliculata whole plant from IA site. It was also lower in residential area than in heavy traffic area. Conclusion The level of heavy metal content differed in the same medicinal plant collected from environmentally different sites of the same city. Thus, it reiterates our belief that every medicinal plant sample should be tested for contaminant load before processing it further for medication.

Treatments on 5 Plants' Absorbing Heavy Metal Effects in Winter

The orthogonal test incIuding heavy metal, matrixes, passivation agents, and five pIants was conducted. The resuIts showed that Cyperus alternifoIius per-formed the best among the 5 kinds of pIants in the comprehensive absorptive amount of the 4 kinds of heavy metals named Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn, the foI owing is Radix ophiopogonis. EDTA showed the best inhibitory effects on the absorptive amounts of heavy metals. The governance effects of the 4 kinds of passivation a-gents were in the order of EDTA 〉 Iime 〉 organic fertiIizer 〉 siIicon fertiIizer. PerIite was the most favorabIe matrix for pIants to absorbing the heavy metals, and the governance effects of the 5 kinds of matrix were in the order of perIite 〉 mushroom dreg 〉 soiI 〉 furnace sIag 〉 river sand. PIants showed the most significant purifica-tion effects on the contaminated soiI when soiI contalns Iow concentration heavy metals. The path analysis showed that pIant varieties pIayed a much more important roIe in heavy metal absorption than that of the pIants biomass.

Insights into the Roles of Melatonin in Alleviating Heavy Metal Toxicity in Crop Plants

Alleviating heavy metal pollution in farmland soil,and heavy metal toxicity in plants is the focus of global agricultural environmental research.Melatonin is a kind of indoleamine compound that wide exists in organisms;it is currently known as an endogenous free radical scavenger with the strongest antioxidant effect.As a new plant growth regulator and signaling molecule,melatonin plays an important role in plant resistance to biotic or abiotic stress.Recent studies indicate that melatonin can effectively alleviate heavy metal toxicity in crop plants,which provides a new strategy to minimize heavy metal pollution in crop plants.This study summarizes the research progress on the role of melatonin in alleviating heavy metal toxicity in crop plants and the related physiological and ecological mechanisms such as reducing the concentration of heavy metals in the rhizosphere,fixing and regionally isolating of heavy metals,maintaining the mineral element balance,enhancing the antioxidant defense system and interacting with hormonal signaling.Furthermore,future prospects for the mechanism of melatonin in regulating heavy metal toxicity,the pathway regulating synthesis and catabolism,and the interaction mechanism of melatonin signaling and other phytohormones are presented in this paper,with the goal of providing a theoretical basis for controlling heavy metal ion accumulation in crop plants grown in contaminated soil.

Heavy Metals in Soil and Salad in the Proximity of Historical Ferroalloy Emission

Emissions of manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) from ferro-alloy operations has taken place in Valcamonica, a pre-Alp valley in the province of Brescia, Italy, for about a century until 2001. Metal concentrations were measured in the soil of local home gardens and in the cultivated vegetables. Soil analysis was carried out using a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer in both surface soil and at 10 cm depth. A subset of soil samples (n = 23) additionally was analysed using the modified BCR sequential extraction method and ICP-OES for intercalibration with XRF (XRF Mn = 1.33 * total OES Mn – 71.8;R = 0.830, p Lactuca sativa and Chichorium spp.) were analyzed with a Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence (TXRF) technique. Vegetable and soil metal measurements were performed in 59 home gardens of Valcamonica, and compared with 23 gardens from the Garda Lake reference area. Results indicate significantly higher levels of soil Mn (median 986 ppm vs 416 ppm), Pb (median 46.1 ppm vs 30.2 ppm), Fe (median 19,800 ppm vs 13,100 ppm) in the Valcamonica compared to the reference area. Surface soil levels of all metals were significantly higher in surface soil compared to deeper soil, consistent with atmospheric deposition. Significantly higher levels of metals were shown also in lettuce from Valcamonica for Mn (median 53.6 ppm vs 30.2) and Fe (median 153 vs 118). Metals in Chichorium spp. did not differ between the two areas. Surface soil metal levels declined with increasing distance from the closest ferroalloy plant, consistent with plant emissions as the source of elevated soil metal levels. A correlation between Mn concentrations in soil and lettuce was also observed. These data show that historic ferroalloy plant activity, which ended nearly a decade before this study, has contributed to the persistence of increased Mn levels in locally grown vegetables. Further research is needed to assess whether this increase can lead to adverse effects in humans and plants especially for Mn, an essential element that can be toxic in humans when exceeding the homeostatic ranges.

Heavy metal concentrations in soils and plants in the vicinity of Arufu lead-zinc mine, Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria

This study focused on the influence of base metal mining on heavy metal levels in soils and plants in the vicinity of Arufu lead-zinc mine, Nigeria. Soil samples (0-15 cm depth) and plant samples were collected from cul-tivated farmlands in and around the mine, the unmineralized site and a nearby forest (the control site). The samples were analyzed for heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cr and Cd) by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The physical properties of soils (pH and LOI) were also measured. Results showed that soils from cultivated farm-lands have neutral pH values (6.5-7.5), and low organic matter contents (<10%). Levels of Zn, Pb and Cd in culti-vated soils were higher than the concentrations obtained from the control site. These heavy metals are most probably sourced from mining and agricultural activities in the study area. Heavy metal concentrations measured in plant parts decreased in the order of rice leaves>cassava tubers>peelings. In the same plant species, metal levels decreased in the order of Zn>Fe>Mn>Cu>Pb>Cr>Cd. Most heavy metals were found in plant parts at average concentrations normally observed in plants grown in uncontaminated soil, however, elevated concentrations of Pb and Cd were found in a few cassava samples close to the mine dump. A stepwise linear regression analysis identified soil metal contents, pH and LOI as some of the factors influencing soil-plant metal uptake.