Abstract
In the present study, six native halophytes were collected from soil of northern Nile Delta to evaluate their phytoremediation potential of heavy metals. For this purpose, soil, the aboveground parts and roots of the samples were analyzed for total concentrations of Fe, Pb, Ni, Co and Cd using atomic absorption spectrometer. The concentrations of different heavy metals in soils have the sequence of Fe>Ni>Pb>Co>Cd. The pollution quantification for each metal in the study area indicated that, the extremely high enrichment value for Cd; very high enrichment values for Pb and Co and low enrichment values for Ni and Fe; The contamination factor has very high for Cd; moderate for Pb and Co and low for Ni and Fe, while the contamination degree (CD) indicates that the study area is considered to be coast with low to moderate contamination degree (2.74 and 10.29). In the study area, the concentrations of heavy metals in plant species have the order of Fe>Pb> Ni>Cd >Co. Most plant species had a TF1, while the BAF values for Fe, Pb, Ni, Co and Cd were A. halimus, L. pruinosum and S. pruinosa were >1. The highest BAF shoot and root values was observed in Atriplex halimus, while the lowest was for Suaeda maritima. Similarly, the highest TF values were observed for Z. aegyptium, S. pruinosa and L. monopetalum, while the lowest was for S. pruinosa. Results suggest that these plants could be suitable for use in the phytoremediation of contaminated soil sites.
Highlights
In recent years, the problem of environmental contamination by a wide variety of chemical pollutants including heavy metals been observed throughout the world because of toxicity and potential risk for human health [1]
The pH changed among the studied sites as a result of different drainage waters and soil organic matter, highest EC values were recorded at site 1, 2, 3 and 7 due to nearby lakes and sea water intrusion from the Mediterranean Sea [36]
We have concluded that: 1) The heavy metal contents in soil are dependent on soil physico-chemical properties, the concentrations of different heavy metals in soils have the sequence of Fe>Ni> Pb> Co >Cd. 2) The pollution quantification for each metal in the study area indicated that, the extremely high enrichment value for Cd; very high enrichment values for Pb and Co and low enrichment values for Ni and Fe; The contamination factor has very high for Cd; moderate for Pb and Co and low for Ni and Fe, while the contamination degree (CD) indicates that the study area is considered to be coast with low to moderate contamination degree (2.74 and 10.29)
Summary
The problem of environmental contamination by a wide variety of chemical pollutants including heavy metals been observed throughout the world because of toxicity and potential risk for human health [1]. Contamination with heavy metals are one of the main pollutants which affect the plants and animals throughout globe. Food and fodder crops raised on metal contaminated soils have the tendency to accumulate excessive amounts of heavy metals, which poses severe risk to human and animal health [2,3]. Heavy metals like Cu, Cr and Co are vital for plant and animal metabolism, at levels above maximum permissible limits they disrupts the normal functioning of organisms [6,7]. Cd and Pb are known to be highly toxic and carcinogenic for animals and humans [8]
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