Abstract
Contamination of soil by copper (Cu) has become a serious problem throughout the world, causing the reduction of agricultural yield and harmful effects on human health by entering the food chain. A glasshouse pot experiment was designed to evaluate the potential use of halloysite as an immobilizing agent in the aided phytostabilization of Cu-contaminated soil, using Festuca rubra L. The content of Cu in plants, i.e., total and extracted by 0.01 M CaCl2, was determined using the method of spectrophotometry. Cu content in the tested parts of F. rubra differed significantly when halloysite was applied to the soil, as well as with increasing concentrations of Cu. The addition of halloysite significantly increased plant biomass. Cu accumulated in the roots, thereby reducing its toxicity to the aerial parts of the plant. The obtained values of bioconcentration and translocation factors observed for halloysite treatment indicate the effectiveness of using F. rubra in phytostabilization techniques.
Highlights
Human health and quality of life are strictly connected with the quality of the natural environment [1]
We found that above-ground parts of F. rubra pots with the addition of halloysite were characterized by lesser sensitivity to soil contamination with in pots with the addition of halloysite were characterized by lesser sensitivity to soil contamination copper
Heavy metal immobilization treatments in soil do not lead to a complete reduction in their content, they effectively limit ecological risk, and the risk to human health
Summary
Human health and quality of life are strictly connected with the quality of the natural environment [1]. That is why we can more frequently observe the far-reaching health advantages resulting from the concern for a high quality of the natural environment. According to the United States Environmental Action. Group, this environmental problem threatens the health of more than 10 million people across many countries [3]. Heavy metals comprise contamination that is dangerous due to the specific properties of these elements. They are accumulated in living organisms in an uncontrolled manner and introduced into the food chain, the final link of which are humans [4,5]. One ought to be aware of the fact that the contents of heavy metals in soil that are in line with norms specified in legal regulations do not necessarily provide a full guarantee of ecological safety, especially when contaminated soils are characterized by poor sorption abilities and an acidic pH
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