Journal
MOLECULES
Volume 27, Issue 19, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196558
Keywords
phytoextraction; bioconcentration factor; Taraxacum officinale; Plantago lanceolata; Trifolium repens; biomass; unwashed and washed plant samples; Varazdin; Croatia
Funding
- Varazdin County in 2013
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This study aimed to investigate the use of common wild plant species in urban grassland for phytoremediation of soils polluted with heavy metals. The results show that phytoremediation with these plant species is not feasible within a reasonable period of time.
The main objective of this study was to investigate whether the most common wild plant species of urban grassland can be used for phytoremediation of soils polluted with heavy metals. The study was conducted in the city of Varazdin, in northern Croatia. The content of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) was determined in soil samples as well as in unwashed and washed plant samples (Taraxacum officinale, Plantago lanceolata, Trifolium repens). The results show that the most polluted site is the railway station, while most sites are polluted by road traffic. The soils are most enriched with Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd. The bioconcentration factors for all three plant species are <1, indicating the relatively low capacity of phytoextraction. A considerable amount of heavy metals is found in the dust deposited on the plant surface, which is confirmed by a statistically significant difference between washed and unwashed plant samples. In addition, the biomass of each plant species that can be removed (in t/ha year), the mass of specific heavy metal that can be removed (in kg/ha), and the years required for phytoremediation are reported. In conclusion, phytoremediation with only common plant species of urban grassland is not possible within a reasonable period of time.
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