Assessment of Trace Metal Contamination and Accumulation in Sediment and Plants of the Suoxu River, China

Abstract

Trace metal contamination in aquatic ecosystems is a major environmental problem since their accumulation along the food chain poses a public health risk. In this study, we tried to find whether, and to what extent, native plant species along the Suoxu River, China, may be useful for phytostabilization. The concentration of several metal elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in sediment and plant samples collected from different sections of the Suoxu River, China was investigated. Results show that the concentrations of trace metals in the sediment and plants are similar and are found in the order of Zn>Cr>Pb>Cu>Ni>Cd. Standing stock concentration varied between plants groups and metals. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TrF) values were <1 for most of the trace metals, suggesting that the investigated species are no strong accumulators of trace metals, and that translocation from roots to shoots is low. Our study shows that native plant species growing on contaminated sites may have the potential for phytostabilization but not for phytoremediation.