Bioaccumulation Of Metals In Plants Research Articles

Distribution and accumulation of Cadmium in different trophic levels affecting Serangium japonicum, the predatory beetle of whitefly Bemisia tabaci, biologically, physiologically and genetically: An experimental study

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that is of great concern in agroecosystems due to its toxicity to plants, herbivores, carnivores, and human beings. The current study evaluated the allocation and bioaccumulation of Cd from soil to cotton plants, cotton plants to herbivore pests, and herbivorous pests to a natural enemy predator. When soil was spiked with 100 mg/kg Cd, results demonstrated that cotton roots accumulated more Cd than the stems and leaves. The bioaccumulation of Cd was less in 4th instar larvae, pupa, and adults of Serangium japonicum than in Bemisia tabaci adults. The bioaccumulation in S. japonicum elongated the immature development period and reduced adult longevity, oviposition days, fertility, and total pre-oviposition duration. The net reproduction of S. japonicum was also reduced, as was female mature weight and feeding potential; as a result, Cd exposure could reduce the future population size compared to uncontaminated populations. There was decreased activity of the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and POD) and energy-conserving lipids (glycogen, triglyceride, and total cholesterol) in Cd-contaminated S. japonicum compared to controls. The detoxifying enzyme activity of GST and P450 increased while AChE activity did not change. The qRT-PCR research showed that SOD1, CAT, POD, glycogen, and triglyceride gene expression was higher than in controls, whereas detoxification gene expression did not change. Our results indicate that Cd exposure has a physiological trade-off between its adverse effects on life history traits and elevated detoxification and antioxidation of S. japonicum, which could result from gene expression alteration. Further studies are needed to assess whether Cd exposure causes irreversible DNA damage in S. japonicum.

Ecological risk assessment and bioaccumulation of trace element, copper, in wheat varieties irrigated with non-conventional water resources in a semi-arid tropics

In developing countries, using non-conventional water for irrigation is a traditional and cost-effective tool. However, its long-term use for agriculture and forestry will led to toxic metal bioaccumulation in plants and soil environment. Copper (Cu) is an essential plant nutrient but its excess accumulation can cause significant issues and risks to human health following food crop consumption. The present study was conducted with the aim to assess impact of copper (Cu) in the five wheat varieties (Seher-2006, Faislabad-2008, Watan, Galaxy-2013, Punjab-2011) at 7-ecological sites during the two growing seasons (2017, 2018). The source of irrigation included the ground water, industrial wastewater and sewage water. The Cu concentrations were subsequently determined via ecological environment (water, soils) and below and above ground plant organs (shoots, roots, and wheat grains) and phytostabilization potential assessment using various pollution indices. Results of this study revealed that mean Cu concentration in different wheat varieties and treatments were varied from 1.53 to 1.07–3.22 mg/kg, 0.58 and 1.94 mg/kg, 0.43–2.39 mg/kg, and 0.23–0.78 mg/kg in amended soil, root, shoot, and grains, respectively. Wheat cultivar, Seher-2006 showed highest Cu transfer from shoot to grain following irrigation with ground water while lowest after industrial water irrigation. High content of Cu was obtained in water and toxicity was higher than the maximum permissible limit. In case of grain and soil samples the copper contents were present within the safe limits. The value of all the indices for Cu were found less than 1 except for bioaccumulation factor and translocation factor that were greater than 1 for some samples. Our results revealed that the studied varieties of wheat crop were safe for consumption but the continuous usage of wastewater for irrigation may pose health risks after many years of consumption because some samples showed the high value for bioaccumulation factor and transfer factor. Wheat varieties possess desirable traits that are vital for phytoremediation purposes.

Amending mine tailing cover with compost and biochar: effects on vegetation establishment and metal bioaccumulation in the Finnish subarctic

In the northern boreal zone, revegetation and landscaping of closed mine tailings are challenging due to the high concentrations of potentially toxic elements; the use of nutrient-poor, glacigenic cover material (till); cool temperatures; and short growing period. Recycled waste materials such as biochar (BC) and composted sewage sludge (CSS) have been suggested to improve soil forming process and revegetation success as well as decrease metal bioavailability in closed mine tailing areas. We conducted two field experiments in old iron mine tailings at Rautuvaara, northern Finland, where the native mine soil or transported cover till soil had not supported plant growth since the mining ended in 1989. The impacts of CSS and spruce (Picea abies)–derived BC application to till soil on the survival and growth of selected plant species (Pinus sylvestris, Salix myrsinifolia, and grass mixture containing Festuca rubra, Lolium perenne, and Trifolium repens) were investigated during two growing seasons. In addition, the potential of BC to reduce bioaccumulation of metals in plants was studied. We found that (1) organic amendment like CSS markedly enhanced the plant growth and is therefore needed for vegetation establishment in tailing sites that contained only transported till cover, and (2) BC application to till soil-CSS mixture further facilitated the success of grass mixtures resulting in 71–250% higher plant biomass. On the other hand, (3) no effects on P. sylvestris or S. myrsinifolia were recorded during the first growing seasons, and (4) accumulation of metals in cover plants was negligible and BC application to till further decreased the accumulation of Al, Cr, and Fe in the plant tissues.Graphical abstract

Features of Heavy Metals Distribution in Environmental Components of Urban Park Landscapes of Kyiv City

We investigated the impact of the urban environment on the park ecosystems in Kyiv. As representatives of vegetation the species Taraxacum officinale Wigg. and Tilia cordata Mill., were chosen. The content of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Mn, Cr, and Cd) in soil and leaf samples within the ecosystems of the parks Feofaniya, Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Mariyinsky, Pushkin, and Nyvky was measured. The highest level of soil contamination with heavy metals was found in the areas of parks located near highways and public transport stops. The most polluted park was the Kyiv Polytechnic Park, and the least polluted Feofaniya Park. High levels of metals found in soil samples did not always coincide with their highest levels in the biomass of the studied plants leaves. We found that, according to the phytotoxicological classification of metals by the biological absorption coefficient (BAC) by plants within the studied park ecosystems, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Mn, and Cr belong mainly to the elements of low absorption (hazard class IV) except for Mariyinsky Park, where Zn according to the BAC value belongs to the elements of moderate absorption (hazard class III). The order of amount of metal bioaccumulation in plants obtained by us show a fairly wide range for different park ecosystems, which confirms the principle of ecological congruence (compliance), according to which the living components of an ecosystem have developed appropriate adaptations coordinated by the abiotic environment. In order to identify additional ways of migration of heavy metals to the ecosystem of Feofaniya Park, hydrochemical data from the surface of the first aquifer, circulated within the study area, were involved. It has been suggested that the increased concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Mn in the soils of Feofaniya Park are connected with the Pirogivsky landfill, and the groundwater discharged into the park ponds serves as the main way of migration of pollutants to the natural environment, in particular to the soil-plant system. Our results confirm the need to involve biogeochemical data for ecological assessment of the urban environment and early diagnosis of negative influence, when the plants have not yet manifested morphological and anatomical abnormalities.

Evaluating the diffusive gradients in thin films technique for the prediction of metal bioaccumulation in plants grown in river sediments

The diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique is a useful tool for assessing metal bioavailability in sediments. However, the DGT technique has not been used to predict metal bioaccumulation in plants grown in sediments in river systems. In this study, the DGT technique was evaluated for predicting metal bioaccumulation in Phragmites australis growing in contaminated sediments. In sediments with high levels of contamination, release of DGT-labile Cr, Zn, Cu, and Cd occurred, which resulted in high bioaccumulation of these metals in P. australis. Bioaccumulation of Cr, Cu, Zn, and Cd was strongly correlated with the metal concentrations in the sediments measured by the DGT technique. By contrast, the correlation between sediment content and bioaccumulation for As was weak. There were significant negative correlations between the content of Ni in the plant tissues and the contents of the other metals. Overall, the DGT technique provided predictions of metal bioaccumulation similar to those obtained using total metal measurements in multiple polluted sediment samples. Therefore, DGT analysis could be used for assessing heavy metal bioavailability, and metal bioaccumulation in P. australis was not all significantly correlated with the bioavailability concentrations of metals in river sediments.

Ecological risks of an old wood impregnation mill: application of the Triad approach.

Although many studies deal with the distribution and mobility of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) metals in soil, the ecotoxicity of CCA-contaminated soils is rarely studied. The Triad approach was applied to determine the ecological risks posed by a CCA mixture at a decommissioned wood impregnation mill in southern Finland. A combination of (1) chemical analyses; (2) toxicity tests with plants (aquatic: Lemna minor; terrestrial: Lactuca sativa), earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus), and enchytraeids (Enchytraeus albidus) conducted on contaminated soils, their aqueous extracts, and well water collected from the site; and (3) determination of the abundance of enchytraeids and nematodes and the bioaccumulation of metals in plants (horsetail) collected from the field were used to assess the actual risk. Although metal concentrations were low, L. minor growth appeared to be reduced by As contamination of the well water. In soil, metals were heterogeneously distributed with total concentrations of 14.8 to 4360 mg As/kg, 15.2 to 1740 mg Cr/kg, and 4.83 to 790 mg Cu/kg. In several samples, concentrations were above Finnish regulatory guideline values and exceeded the half maximal effective concentration (EC50) or 50% lethal concentration (LC50) values for the toxicity of the individual metals to earthworms and enchytraeids, indicating hazards to the ecosystem. (Bio)availability of metals was high, as indicated by weak electrolyte extractions and body residues in L. rubellus and E. albidus exposed in bioassays. Earthworm survival correlated significantly with body metal concentrations, but not with soil total metal concentrations. Enchytraeid responses in the soil bioassays were less sensitive to CCA metal exposure. Plant growth was affected by CCA pollution, with L. sativa root elongation correlating significantly with total and available As concentrations and L. minor development being significantly reduced in H2O extracts of the most contaminated soil sample. Abundance of enchytraeids and nematodes in the field was much lower than in nonpolluted Finnish soils but did not significantly correlate with CCA contamination. Arsenic accumulation in horsetail did not correlate with As concentrations in soil. Overall, the results of the 3 lines of evidence of the Triad approach indicate possible increased risks to the ecosystem at the most contaminated sites of the CCA treatment area.

Bioaccumulation of metals in plants, arthropods, and mice at a seasonal wetland

AbstractConcentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and nickel were measured in soils, house mice (Mus musculus), and the main food items of this omnivorous mouse to examine the occurrence of these metals in selected components of a seasonal wetland. Soil concentrations of copper, lead, and (in some areas) nickel were elevated, but extractable soil concentrations indicated low bioavailability of metals. Levels of most metals in mice and composited arthropods were consistent with reference site concentrations from other studies. However, copper was found to be particularly mobile within the local ecosystem and accumulated in house mouse carcasses and composited arthropods at substantial levels. Metal residues in Scirpus robustus (alkali bulrush) roots exceeded those in seeds, consistent with patterns of bioaccumulation commonly observed in plants. Uptake and bioaccumulation factors for S. robustus seeds and roots, arthropods, and mouse carcasses and livers are reported. Concentrations of lead and nickel in S. robustus roots exhibited significant linear relationships with levels in soils. Copper levels in S. robustus seeds varied significantly with those in house mouse livers, suggesting that trophic transfer of copper from this food source to mice occurred. However, other spatial patterns of bioaccumulation in S. robustus and house mice relative to soil/seed concentrations were absent. Metal levels in house mice bore no relation to body weight or estimated age.

Bioaccumulation of metals in plants, arthropods, and mice at a seasonal wetland.

Concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, and nickel were measured in soils, house mice (Mus musculus), and the main food items of this omnivorous mouse to examine the occurrence of these metals in selected components of a seasonal wetland. Soil concentrations of copper, lead, and (in some areas) nickel were elevated, but extractable soil concentrations indicated low bioavailability of metals. Levels of most metals in mice and composited arthropods were consistent with reference site concentrations from other studies. However, copper was found to be particularly mobile within the local ecosystem and accumulated in house mouse carcasses and composited arthropods at substantial levels. Metal residues in Scirpus robustus (alkali bulrush) roots exceeded those in seeds, consistent with patterns of bioaccumulation commonly observed in plants. Uptake and bioaccumulation factors for S. robustus seeds and roots, arthropods, and mouse carcasses and livers are reported. Concentrations of lead and nickel in S. robustus roots exhibited significant linear relationships with levels in soils. Copper levels in S. robustus seeds varied significantly with those in house mouse livers, suggesting that trophic transfer of copper from this food source to mice occurred. However, other spatial patterns of bioaccumulation in S. robustus and house mice relative to soil/seed concentrations were absent. Metal levels in house mice bore no relation to body weight or estimated age.