Uptake and distributions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cultivated plants around an E-waste disposal site in Southern China

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air, soil, and cultivated plants at e-waste disposal sites in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, were determined to allow PAH uptake by and distributions in plants to be investigated. The PAH distributions in air, rhizosphere soil, and surface soil were markedly different. This indicated that root morphology variations and root exudates may affect PAH compositions in soil around plants. The PAH concentrations in the plant samples were 29.7-2170 ng/g. The lowest PAH concentration was found in a peeled taproot sample. The PAH concentration gradients from the plant shoots to roots suggested that PAHs entered the plants through various pathways. The three- and four-ring PAHs were found to be absorbed more readily than the higher-molecular-weight (five- and six-ring) PAHs. This indicated that high-molecular-weight PAHs in soil can be prevented from entering plants, particularly taproots, via root exudates and the root peel. For most plants, the highest PAH concentrations were found in leaves, indicating that atmospheric deposition may strongly affect PAH concentrations in aerial plant parts. High-molecular-weight PAHs are more readily absorbed from ambient air by leaves than other parts. Lower PAH concentrations were found in fruits than other plant parts. This and the differences in PAH distributions between fruits and other aerial parts indicated that PAHs may be selectively absorbed by fruits.

Automated summary

The study found that there are differences in the absorption and distribution of PAHs by plants from air, soil, and root zone, with higher molecular weight PAHs being less readily absorbed. In most plants, the highest PAH concentrations were found in leaves, while fruits had lower PAH concentrations.