A survey of zinc, copper and cadmium concentrations in salt marsh plants along the Dutch coast

In autumn 1986, plants and soil were collected from the lower and the higher salt marsh zones of salt marshes along the Dutch coast. The main purpose was to get an overview of Zn, Cu and Cd concentrations in six dominant species of salt marsh plants. The roots and shoots of the plants were analysed for Zn, Cu and Cd. The highest heavy metal concentrations were found in plants collected from salt marshes near harbour areas and/or that are known to receive contaminated fluvial sediment. Dicotyledonous plant species tended to have similar heavy metal concentrations in roots and shoots, whereas in monocotyledonous species the concentrations in the roots were two to three times higher than in the shoots. Differences in accumulation in the roots between elements and between plant species were found. Cd was accumulated more than Zn or Cu. Triglochin maritima shows a low Cd uptake by roots, whereas Spartina anglica and Scirpus maritimus tend to accumulate it. The fraction of soil particles smaller than 63 microm, loss on ignition and Zn, Cu and Cd concentrations were determined in soil samples. The highest Zn, Cu and Cd concentrations in the soil were found at salt marshes in the Western Scheldt area and were nine, five and 20 times higher than background levels, respectively.     

Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizae and heavy metals under sand culture experiment

A sand culture experiment was established to determine interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizae and heavy metals. Mycorrhizal infection rates, spore densities, maize root and shoot weights, and heavy metal contents in maize were as indexes of responses of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Acaulospora laevis, Glomus caledonium and Glomus manihotis) to heavy metals (Cu and Cd). The mycorrhizal infection rates of G. caledonium were the highest among these three mycorrhizal fungi, but the sporulating ability of G. caledonium was the poorest in the heavy metal treatments. The shoot and root weights of non-mycorrhizal plants were usually greater than those of mycorrhizal plants when the Cu concentrations in solutions are less than 3 mg l(-1) or Cd concentrations less than 1 mg l(-1). When Cd concentrations were 0.5 and 1 mg(-1), the root and shoot weights of plants inoculated with A. laevis were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those of other treatments. Copper concentrations in shoots of mycorrhizal plants were higher than those of non-mycorrhizal ones at all Cu concentrations in solution, especially at low Cu concentrations. As to A. laevis, Cu concentrations in roots and shoots of the host were higher than those of non-mycorrhizal plants in these treatments. Thus A. laevis was sensitive to Cu and Cd, especially Cd, and G. caledonium was more tolerant to these two heavy metals. It is suggested that G. caledonium might be a promising mycorrhizal fungus for bioremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil.     

Growth and metal accumulation in vetiver and two Sesbania species on lead/zinc mine tailings

The lead (Pb)/zinc (Zn) tailings contained high concentrations of heavy metals (total Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd concentrations 4164, 4377, 35 and 32 mg kg(-1), respectively), and low contents of major nutrient elements (N, P, and K) and organic matter. A field trial was conducted to compare growth performance, metal accumulation of Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) and two legume species (Sesbania rostrata and Sesbania sesban) grown on the tailings amended with domestic refuse and/or fertilizer. It was revealed that domestic refuse alone and the combination of domestic refuse and artificial fertilizer significantly improved the survival rates and growth of V. zizanioides and two Sesbania species, especially the combination. However, artificial fertilizer alone did not improve both the survival rate and growth performance of the plants grown on tailings. Roots of these species accumulated similar levels of heavy metals, but the shoots of two Sesbania species accumulated higher (3-4 folds) concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd than shoots of V. zizanioides. Most of the heavy metals in V. zizanioides were accumulated in roots, and the translocation of metals from roots to shoots was restricted. Intercropping of V. zizanioides and S. rostrata did not show any beneficial effect on individual plant species, in terms of height, biomass, survival rate, and metal accumulation, possibly due to the rather short experimental period of 5 months.     

Role of microbial inoculation and chitosan in phytoextraction of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd by Elsholtzia splendens--a field case

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of microbial inoculation on heavy metal phytoextraction by Elsholtzia splendens and whether chitosan could have a synergistic effect with the microbial inocula. The microbial inocula consisted of a consortium of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and two Penicillium fungi. Three treatments were included: the control, inoculation with microbial inocula, and the inoculation combined with chitosan. Microbial inoculation increased plant biomass especially shoot dry weight, enhanced shoot Cu, Zn and Pb concentrations but did not affect Cd, leading to higher shoot Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd uptake. Compared with microbial inoculation alone, chitosan application did not affect plant growth but increased shoot Zn, Pb and Cd concentrations except Cu, which led to higher phytoextraction efficiencies and partitioning to shoots of Zn, Pb and Cd. These results indicated synergistic effects between microbial inocula and chitosan on Zn, Pb and Cd phytoextraction.     

Relation between heavy metal concentrations in salt marsh plants and soil

The aim of the research reported here was to investigate the relation between heavy metal concentrations in salt marsh plants, extractability of the metals from soil and some soil characteristics. In April 1987, Spartina anglica and Aster tripolium plants and soil were collected from four salt marshes along the Dutch coast. The redox potential of the soil between the roots of the plants and at bare sites was measured. Soil samples were oven-dried and analyzed for chloride concentration, pH, fraction of soil particles smaller than 63 microm (f < 63 microm), loss on ignition (LOI) and ammonium acetate and hydrochloric acid extractable Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations. The roots and shoots of the plants were analyzed for Cd, Cu and Zn. Because drying of the soil prior to chemical analysis might have changed the chemical speciation of the metals, and therefore the outcome of the ammonium acetate extraction, a second survey was performed in October 1990. In this survey A. tripolium plants and soil were collected from two salt marshes. Fresh and matched oven-dried soil samples were analyzed for water, ammonium acetate and diethylene triaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) extractable Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations. The soil samples were also analyzed for f < 63 microm, LOI and total (HNO(3)/HCl digestion) metal concentrations. Soil metal concentrations were correlated with LOI. Drying prior to analysis of the soil had a significant effect on the extractability of the metals with water, ammonium acetate or DTPA. Plant metal concentrations significantly correlated only with some extractable metal concentrations determined in dried soil samples. However, these correlations were not consistently better than with total metal concentrations in the soil. It was concluded that extractions of metals from soil with water, ammonium acetate or DTPA are not better predictors for metal concentrations in salt marsh plants than total metal concentrations, and that a major part of the variation in metal concentrations in the plants cannot be explained by variation in soil composition.     

Survival strategies of plants associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on toxic mine tailings

A field survey of metal concentrations and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) components of plants growing on five mining sites was conducted in Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, Southern China and a control site in Hong Kong. Significant differences were observed in the average concentrations of total heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd) and one metalloid (As) in contaminated soils compared with the control site. Gramineae and Compositae were the dominant plant families growing on mine tailings, with Chrysanthemum moritolium (common chrysanthemum), Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass), Miscanthus florodulus (Sword grass) and Pteris vittata (Ladder brake fern) commonly found at all sites. AM fungal colonization was detected in most of the plants. Comparing the four common plant species, three components of mycorrhizal colonization (arbuscules, vesicles and coiled hyphae) were found in the roots of C. dactylon and P. vittata growing at Do Shun Long (DSL) mine site. Concentrations of As in fronds were 24-fold higher than in roots of P. vittata with the highest mycorrhizal colonization rate (73%) among all sampling sites. Extensive mycorrhizal colonization (85%) was also recorded in the roots of C. dactylon with As accumulation 57 times higher than in shoots. The four common plants found in metal contaminated sites had developed different strategies for survival in the contaminated sites with the aid of indigenous AM fungi.     

Simulating the long-term chemistry of an upland UK catchment: heavy metals

CHUM-AM was used to investigate the behaviours of atmospherically-deposited heavy metals (Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in three moorland sub-catchments in Cumbria UK. The principal processes controlling cationic metals are competitive partitioning to soil organic matter, chemical interactions in solution, and chemical weathering. Metal deposition histories were generated by combining measured data for the last 30 years with local lake sediment records. For Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd, default parameters for the interactions with organic matter provided reasonable agreement between simulated and observed present-day soil metal pools and average streamwater concentrations. However, for Pb, the soil binding affinity in the model had to be increased to match the observations. Simulations suggest that weakly-sorbing metals (Ni, Zn, Cd) will respond on timescales of decades to centuries to changes in metal inputs or acidification status. More strongly-sorbing metals (Cu, Pb) will respond over centuries to millennia.     

The use of NTA and EDDS for enhanced phytoextraction of metals from a multiply contaminated soil by Brassica carinata

The potential of nine different species to grow in the presence of metals (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) and to accumulate them in the shoots was assessed for each metal separately by germination and root length tests, and successively by hydroponic experiments. Of the nine species tested, Brassica carinata was the species that accumulated the highest amounts of metals in shoots without suffering a significant biomass reduction. To further evaluate the potential of B. carinata for chelant-enhanced phytoextraction of a natural, multiply metal-polluted soil (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn), both hydroponic and pot experiments were carried out with nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) or (S,S)-ethylenediamine disuccinic acid (EDDS) as complexing agents. The hydroponic study with solutions containing the five metals together showed that accumulation of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in shoots was higher following EDDS addition compared to NTA. EDDS was more effective than NTA in desorbing Cu, Pb and Zn from the soil, whereas As and Cd were poorly extracted. B. carinata plants were grown for 4 weeks in the multiply metal-contaminated soil and then the soil was amended with 5 mmol kg(-1) NTA or EDDS. All plants were harvested 1 week after amendment. In comparison to NTA, EDDS was more effective in enhancing the concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn in B. carinata shoots (2- to 4-fold increase compared to the control). One week after chelant addition, the DTPA-extractable metal concentrations in the polluted soil were lower in the EDDS treatment in comparison with the NTA amendment. Even though B. carinata showed a reduced growth and a relatively low metal uptake, it demonstrated the ability to survive and tolerate the presence of more metals simultaneously.     

Is metal extraction by Arabidopsis halleri related to exchangeable metal rates in soils amended with different metal-bearing solids?

Metals are associated to various constituents in polluted soils, and their availability is closely related to their chemical speciation. Studies on relations between metal extraction efficiency by hyperaccumulators and location of metals with respect to soil constituents are scarce. In this study. we investigate the relationship between metal extraction by Arabidopsis halleri and the exchangeable metals from substrates amended with various metal-bearing solids collected in the vicinity of a Zn smelter complex. These consisted of fresh and decomposing organic matter, the soil clay fraction, and two types of waste slags. ZnSO4 was also used as metal-bearing solid. Each was mixed with an unpolluted soil to produce two types of substrate, one moderately polluted and the other highly polluted. Total Zinc, Cd, Cu, and Pb were measured in substrates and in roots and shoots of A. halleri. Analysis of 0.01 M CaCl2 exchangeable metals in each substrate was performed before and after plant growth. The results showed different concentrations of exchangeable metals after plant growth, depending on the nature of the metal-bearing solids. In the ZnSO4 soil substrate, the proportion of exchangeable Zn decreased after plant growth, whilst it increased significantly on substrates amended with the two waste slags. For the other substrates, exchangeable Zn was not significantly different before and after plant growth. The same trend was observed for Cd. In the case of Cu, exchangeable rates increased in all substrates. The results were discussed according to the characteristics of the metal-bearing solids and to the metal-uptake strategy of A. halleri.     

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae induces growth and metal accumulation changes in Cannabis sativa L

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza on heavy metal uptake and translocation was investigated in Cannabis sativa. Hemp was grown in the presence and absence of 100 microg g-1 Cd and Ni and 300 microg g-1 Cr(VI), and inoculated or not with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae. In our experimental condition, hemp growth was reduced in inoculated plants and the reduction was related to the degree of mycorrhization. The percentage of mycorrhizal colonisation was 42% and 9% in plants grown in non-contaminated and contaminated soil, suggesting a significant negative effect of high metal concentrations on plant infection by G. mosseae. Soil pH, metal bioavailability and plant metal uptake were not influenced by mycorrhization. The organ metal concentrations were not statistically different between inoculated and non-inoculated plants, apart from Ni which concentration was significantly higher in stem and leaf of inoculated plants grown in contaminated soil. The distribution of absorbed metals inside plant was related to the soil heavy metal concentrations: in plant grown in non-contaminated soil the greater part of absorbed Cr and Ni was found in shoots and no significant difference was determined between inoculated and non-inoculated plants. On the contrary, plants grown in artificially contaminated soil accumulated most metal in root organ. In this soil, mycorrhization significantly enhanced the translocation of all the three metals from root to shoot. The possibility to increase metal accumulation in shoot is very interesting for phytoextraction purpose, since most high producing biomass plants, such as non-mycorrhized hemp, retain most heavy metals in roots, limiting their application.     

Aseptic hydroponics to assess rhamnolipid-Cd and rhamnolipid-Zn bioavailability for sunflower (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annuus</Emphasis>): a phytoextraction mechanism study

The availability of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) to sunflower (Helianthus annuus) was investigated in rhamnolipid- and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-buffered solutions in order to evaluate the influence of aqueous speciation of the metals on their uptake by the plant, in relation to predictions of uptake by the free ion activity model (FIAM). Free metal ion activity was estimated using the chemical equilibrium program MINTEQ or measured by Donnan dialysis. The uptake of Cd followed the FIAM for the EDTA-buffered solution at EDTA concentrations below 0.4 μM; for the rhamnolipid-buffered solution, the uptake of both metals in roots was not markedly affected by increasing rhamnolipid concentrations in solution. This suggests rhamnolipid enhanced metal accumulation in plant roots (per unit free metal in solution) possibly through formation and uptake of lipophilic complexes. The addition of normal Ca concentrations (low millimetre range) to the rhamnolipid uptake solutions reduced Cd accumulation in shoots by inhibiting Cd translocation, whereas it significantly increased Zn accumulation in shoots. This study confirms that although rhamnolipid could enhance accumulation of Cd in plants roots at low Ca supply, it is not suitable for Cd phytoextraction in contaminated soil environments where Ca concentrations in soil solution are orders of magnitude greater than those of Cd.     

Enhanced phytoextraction of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd with EDTA and EDDS

Chemically enhanced phytoextraction has been proposed as an effective approach to removing heavy metals from contaminated soil through the use of high biomass plants. Using pot experiments, the effects of the application of EDTA, EDDS and citric acid on the uptake of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd by corn (Zea mays L. cv. Nongda 108) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. white bean) plants were studied. The results showed that EDDS was more effective than EDTA at increasing the concentration of Cu in corn and beans. The application of 5 mmol kg-1 soil EDDS to soil significantly increased concentrations of Cu in shoots, with maximum levels of 2060 and 5130 mg kg-1 DW in corn and beans, respectively, which were 45- and 135-fold higher than that in the corresponding control plants to which chelate had not been applied. Concentrations of Zn in shoots were also higher in the plants treated with EDDS than in those treated with EDTA. For Pb and Cd, EDDS was less effective than EDTA. The maximum Cu phytoextraction was found with the EDDS treatment. The application of EDTA and EDDS also significantly increased the shoot-to-root ratios of the concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd in both plant species. The results of metal extraction with chelates showed that EDDS was more efficient at solubilizing Cu and Zn than EDTA, and that EDTA was better at solubilizing Pb and Cd than EDDS.     

Uptake of metals by food plants grown on soils 10 years after biosolids application

Potentially hazardous trace elements such as Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni and Zn are expected to accumulate in biosolids–amended soil and remain in the soil for a long period of time. In this research, uptake of metals by food plants including cabbage, carrot, lettuce and tomato grown on soils 10 years after biosolids application was studied. All the five metals were significantly accumulated in the biosolids-amended soils. The accumulation of metal in soil did not result in significant increase in concentrations of Cu, Cr and Ni in the edible plant tissues. However, the Cd and Zn concentrations of the edible tissues of plants harvested from the biosolids receiving soils were significantly enhanced in comparison with those of the unaffected soils. The plant uptake under Greenfield sandy loam soil was generally higher than those under the Domino clayey loam soil. The metal concentration of edible plant tissue exhibited increasing trends with respect to the concentrations of the ambulated metals. The extents of the increases were plant species dependent. The indigenous soil metals were absorbed by the plants in much higher rates than those of the biosolids–receiving soils. It appeared that the plant uptake of the indigenous soil-borne metal and the added biosolids-borne metals are independent of one another and mathematically are additive.     

Direct and indirect effects of metal contamination on soil biota in a Zn-Pb post-mining and smelting area (S Poland)

Effects of metal contamination on soil biota activity were investigated at 43 sites in 5 different habitats (defined by substratum and vegetation type) in a post-mining area. Sites were characterised in terms of soil pH and texture, nutrient status, total and exchangeable metal concentrations, as well as plant species richness and cover, abundances of enchytraeids, nematodes and tardigrades, and microbial respiration and biomass. The concentrations of total trace metals were highest in soils developed on mining waste (metal-rich dolomite), but these habitats were more attractive than sandy sites for plants and soil biota because of their higher content of organic matter, clay and nutrients. Soil mesofauna and microbes were strongly dependent on natural habitat properties. Pollution (exchangeable Zn and Cd) negatively affected only enchytraeid density; due to a positive relationship between enchytraeids and microbes it indirectly reduced microbial activity.     

Assessment of macro and microelement accumulation capability of two aquatic plants

The concentrations of four macroelements (C, N, P, S) and eight trace metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) were measured in the leaves and roots of the emergent plant, Phragmites communis Trin., and in the shoots and roots of the submersed Najas marina L., taken from Lake Averno (Naples, Italy). Phragmites communis leaves showed higher concentrations of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus than roots, while the roots exhibited significantly higher concentrations of sulphur and trace metals. Najas marina roots also showed higher concentrations of sulphur and trace metals than shoots, but these differences were less marked than in Phragmites communis except for sulphur. Sulphur was the only macronutrient to show the highest concentrations in the roots. Phragmites communis roots had higher values of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Ni than Najas marina roots. By contrast, Cd, Cr, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations were higher in Najas marina shoots than in Phragmites communis leaves. Phragmites communis, available through the year, showing high capability to accumulate trace metals in the roots, appears a good monitor of lake contamination, better than Najas marina.     

Effects of mycorrhizae and other soil microbes on revegetation of heavy metal contaminated mine spoil

The effects of mycorrhizal fungi and other soil microorganisms on growth of two grasses, Andropogon gerardii Vitm. and Festuca arundinacea Schreb., in heavy metal-contaminated soil and mine tailings were investigated. A. gerardii is highly dependent on mycorrhizal fungi in native prairie, while F. arundinacea is a facultative mycotroph and relies on mycorrhizal symbiosis only in extremely infertile soils. Regardless of microbial amendments, neither plant species was able to establish and grow in the mine tailings. Both plant species grew in the moderately contaminated or non-contaminated soils, although A. gerardii grew in these soils only when mycorrhizal. Other soil microbes significantly improved growth of A. gerardii only in uncontaminated soil, but to a lesser extent than mycorrhizae. Although F. arundinacea was more highly colonized by mycorrhizal fungi than A. gerardii, neither microbial amendment affected growth of fescue in any soil. In several treatments mycorrhizal fungi adapted to uncontaminated soil stimulated plant growth more than mycorrhizae adapted to the moderately contaminated soil. However, mycorrhizal fungi adapted to contaminated soil did not increase the productivity of plant growth in contaminated soil more than fungi adapted to uncontaminated soil. A. gerardii plants inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi retained more Zn in roots than in shoots, confirming earlier reports that mycorrhizal fungi alter the translocation pattern of heavy metals in host plants. In contrast, mycorrhizae did not affect translocation patterns in F. arundinaceae, suggesting that the mycorrhizal dependence of a plant species is correlated with the retention of metals in roots. The correlation between mycorrhizal dependence of a plant species and mycorrhizal alteration of translocation pattern may also explain the inconsistent reports of mycorrhizal effects on translocation of heavy metals in plants. Plant response to mycorrhizal symbiosis may therefore provide a useful criterion for the selection of the plant species to be used in revegetation of contaminated sites.     

Effect of soil on microbial responses to metal contamination

An experiment was conducted to investigate microbial responses to metal inputs in five soils with varying clay and organic contents; one soil had also a higher pH. These soils were treated with a low metal, sewage sludge control or with this sludge contaminated to achieve Cu=112, Ni=58 and Zn=220 mg kg(-1) in medium and Cu=182, Ni=98 and Zn=325 mg kg(-1) in high metal soils. CO(2) evolution rates were measured at 1 week and at 4-5-day intervals thereafter until the end of the incubation (7 weeks). Extractable metals (CaCl(2) and water), biomass C, metabolic quotient, ergosterol, bacterial-fungal phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA-3 weeks only) ratio and mineral N were measured at 3 and 7 weeks. Metal inputs caused a marked increase in metal availability in the slightly acidic sandy loams, a smaller increase in slightly acidic clays and had little effect in the alkaline loam. After an initial increase in CO(2) evolution with metal inputs in all soils, the high metal treatment alone caused a significant decrease at later stages, mainly in sandy loams. Although biomass C and metabolic quotient decreased in all soils with higher metal inputs, the effect was more pronounced in the sandy loams. Metal inputs increased ergosterol and decreased bacterial-fungal PLFA ratios in most soils. Larger mineral N contents were found in all high metal soils at 3 weeks but, after 7 weeks, metals caused a significant decrease in sandy loams. CaCl(2) and water-extractable Cu, Ni and Zn contents were closely correlated with microbial indices in sandy loam but not in clay soils. Overall, the effect of treatments on microbial and extractable metal indices was greater in loams. Within a single series, higher organic soils showed less pronounced responses to metal inputs, although this trend was not always consistent.     

Wild fire impact on copper, zinc, lead and cadmium distribution in soil and relation with abundance in selected plants of Lamiaceae family from Vidlic Mountain (Serbia)

Fire has been considered as an improving factor in soil quality, but only if it is controlled. Severe wild fire occurred in the summer 2007 on the Vidlic Mountain (Serbia) overspreading a huge area of meadows and forests.Main soil characteristics and content of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn) in different fractions obtained after sequential extraction of soil from post-fire areas and from fire non disturbed areas were studied. In four plant species of Lamiaceae family (Ajuga genevensis L., Lamium galeobdolon (L.) L., Teucrium chamaedrys L., Acinos alpinus (L.) Moench.), that grow in typical habitats of the mountain, distribution of heavy metals in aerial parts and roots was investigated too.For all samples from post-fire area cation exchange capacity and soil organic matter content are increased while rH is decreased. Fire caused slightly increased bioavailability of the observed metals but more significant rise happened in metal amounts bound to oxides and organics. The plants showed variable behavior. T. chamaedrys collected on the post-fire area contained elevated concentrations of all analyzed metals. A. alpinus showed higher phytoaccumulation for Zn and Cd, while the other two plant species for Pb and Cd in the post-fire areas.     

PCBs and DDT in the serum of juvenile California sea lions: associations with vitamins A and E and thyroid hormones

In order to better understand the fate of metals during the biodegradation of organic matter in soils, an in vitro incubation experiment was conducted with metal-rich and metal-free leaves of Arabidopsis halleri introduced in a non-contaminated soil. During incubation of these microcosms, we followed the partitioning of Zn and Cd between the solution and their solid components, by determining the metal contents of six soil fractions and dissolved metals after granulo-densimetric separations at selected times. Microbial biomass and exchangeable metals in K(2)SO(4) solutions were also determined at the same times, and two main stages were identified. The first one takes place after a fast abiotic transfer of Zn and Cd from readily soluble plant tissues onto fine soil constituents, keeping metals away from the liquid phase: during about 14 days, microbial biomass increased as well as metal contents of some soil fractions, particularly those rich in particulate organic matter. During the second stage, between 14 and 60 days and for the metal-rich microcosms, Zn and Cd contents in solution increased, while microbial biomass decreased instead of staying constant as in control. A change of Zn and Cd speciation is assumed, from non-toxic adsorbed forms to more toxic species in solution. Remaining metal-rich plant residues seem to create a stable organic C compartment in the soil.     

Metal extraction by Arabidopsis halleri grown on an unpolluted soil amended with various metal-bearing solids: a pot experiment.

Most studies dealing with phytoremediation have considered metal extraction efficiency in relation to metal concentration of bulk soil samples or metal concentration of the soil solution. However, little is known about the effect of various metal-bearing solids on plant growth and metal extraction of hyperaccumulators. In this study, we investigated the ability of Arabidopsis halleri to grow and extract metals from different substrates consisting in an unpolluted soil amended with various metal-bearing solids collected in soils around a Zn smelter complex. The metal-bearing solids used as amendments were: fresh and decomposing organic residues in the soil, a soil clay fraction and two waste slags. Pure mono-metallic salt (ZnSO4) was also used. Two series of substrates were produced, one moderately polluted, and the other highly polluted. An additional substrate was formed by the unamended soil, and used as an unpolluted control. Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb were measured in the substrates, and in the roots and shoots of A. halleri. The dry matter yield of A. halleri was shown not to depend on the nature of the metal-bearing solid used, except when Cu-toxicity was suspected. On highly-polluted substrates, Zn extraction by A. halleri depended on the nature of metal-bearing solids used, showing the following trend: pure mono-metallic salt > waste slags and soil clay fraction > fresh and decomposing organic matter. We explained these differences by the high solubility of Zn in the mono-metallic salt, whereas in the mineral metal-bearing solids and in both fresh and decomposing organic matter, Zn release required mineral weathering or organic matter mineralization, respectively. This work clearly showed that phytoremediation studies have to consider the nature of metal-bearing solids in contaminated soils to better predict the efficiency of plant extraction.