Hyperaccumulation of Pb, Zn and Cd in herbaceous grown on lead-zinc mining area in Yunnan, China

A field survey of herbaceous growing on lead-zinc mining area in Yunnan, China were conducted to identify species accumulating exceptionally large concentrations of Pb, Zn and Cd in shoots. In total, 220 plant samples of 129 species of 50 families and 220 soil samples in which the plants were growing were collected. According to accumulation concentration in plant shoots and the concentration time levels compared to plants from non-polluted environments, 21 plant samples of 16 species were chosen as best-performing specimens, 11 plant samples of 10 species for Pb, 5 plant samples of 4 species for Zn and 5 plant samples of 5 species for Cd. Sonchus asper (L.) Hill in Qilinkeng had hyperaccumulation capacity to Pb and Zn. Corydalis pterygopetala Franch in Paomaping had hyperaccumulation capacity to Zn and Cd. All 5 Cd hyperaccumulators came from Lanping lead-zinc mining area. Out of 11 Pb hyperaccumulators, 7 came from Minbingying of Huice lead-zinc mining area. The average of the concentration time levels compared to plants from non-polluted environments were higher than 10 times in all plant samples, the concentration time levels changed from 203 times to 620 times for Pb, from 50 times to 70 times for Zn and from 145 times to 330 times for Cd. Out of 21 plant samples, translocation factor changed from 0.35 to 1.90, only translocation factor of 7 plant samples were higher than 1. Enrichment coefficients of all samples were lower than 1. These plant species were primarily heavy metal hyperaccumulator, and will be used in phytoremediation of the metallic pollutants in soils after further research in accumulation mechanism.     

Pollution load of Pb,Zn, and Cd and mineralogy of the recent sediments of Jordan River/Jordan

The present geochemical analyses of Zn, Pb and Cd in eighteen subsurface sediment samples collected from two locations along the Jordan River show that Cd is anthropogenically enriched in these sediments. In the sediment column, the concentration of Zn, Pb and Cd decreases clearly with depth in the first location of the upper reach, due to the high rate of sedimentation in this location; whereas the enrichment of elements of the lower reach increases gradually towards the old sediments. The Anthropogenic factor of the studied metals lies in the sequence of Pb>Cd>Zn.     

Accumulation of Cu,Zn, Cd,and Pb by Scenedesmus obliquus under nongrowth conditions

The aim of this work has been to assess the accumulation of copper, zinc, cadmium and lead by a test alga, Scenedesmus obliquus, under nongrowth conditions. The results provide an evidence that metals can be readily accumulated by algae and that accumulation is a function of the metal-to-algae exposure ratio. When the metals were added in combination in equimolar concentrations, the following order of affinity to algal surface was detected Zn > Cu ? Cd > Pb. However, when EDTA was added to the test water, metal accumulation was greatly retarded. Moreover, when algae loaded with one of the metals were washed with EDTA solution the major part of the accumulated metal was mobilized, indicating that EDTA had stronger metal binding affinity than any ligands liable to exist on algal surface. Metal accumulation by algal cells isolated from a culture in the logarithmic growth phase was of much higher magnitude than that displayed by cells isolated from a culture in the decline phase.     

Accumulation of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in plants and hyperaccumulator choice in Lanping lead-zinc mine area, China

A field survey of higher terrestrial plants growing on Lanping lead-zinc mine, China were conducted to identify species accumulating exceptionally large concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn of 20 samples of 17 plant species. Concentrations of Pb and Zn in soil and in plant were higher than that of Cu and Cd. Significant difference was observed among the average concentrations of four heavy metals in plants (except Cd and Cu) and in soil (except Pb and Zn) (P<0.05). For the enrichment coefficient of the four heavy metals in plant, the order of average was Pbtree>herbaceous, and herbaceous grew in soil with the highest concentrations of four heavy metals. In different areas, the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in plants and soils and enrichment coefficient were different. Plants in Paomaping had more accumulating ability to Pb, Cd and Zn, and plants in Jinfeng River had more accumulating ability to Cu. Six plant species, i.e. S. cathayana, Lithocarpus dealbatus, L. plyneura, Fargesia dura, Arundinella yunnanensis and R. annae in Paomaping, had high accumulation capacity. R. annae in Paomaping had hyperaccumulating capacity to Pb, Cd and Zn, L. plyneura to Pb and Cd, and S. cathayana to Cd, respectively.     

Effects of readily dispersible colloid on adsorption and transport of Zn, Cu, and Pb in soils

Soil colloids (<0.002 mm) were extracted from three types of soils to make the colloid-bound forms of Zn, Cu, and Pb solution. The clay mineral types and composition of the colloids, the adsorption characteristics of the colloids, and the effect of readily dispersible colloid on the transport of metals and the quality of the soils and groundwater were studied. The results showed that the adsorption capacity of Cu, Zn, and Pb was greater for the Aquic Vertisols (Shajiang Black soil) as compared to the Udic Luvisols (Brown soil) and Usdic Luvisols (Cinnamon soil), due to the difference of clay content and clay mineral composition in the different soils. The adsorption capacity of Pb was much higher than that of Zn and Cu for the same soils, which would contribute to the chemical properties of metals and specific adsorption characters of the colloids. The mobility of Zn in soils was greater than that of Cu and Pb, while similar trend was found in the transportation processes for Zn and Cu. The concentration of Zn and Cu in leachates increased as the leaching solution volume increased, but the migration of Pb was negligible, and the concentration of Pb could not been detected in leachates even after 7.5 pore volume leaching solution. The influence of mobility on Zn and Cu transport was different for different type of colloids. The mobility caused by readily dispersible colloids from Aquic Vertisols was greater as compared to that of Udic Luvisols and Usdic Luvisols. Analysis of soils after column leaching indicated that Zn was distributed much deeper than Cu, but Pb was almost not migrated, and mainly accumulated in the soil surface. Therefore, Zn had greater tendency for the groundwater pollution than Cu and Pb, and Pb tends to contaminate the surface soils.     

Correlation of the partitioning of dissolved organic matter fractions with the desorption of Cd,Cu, Ni,Pb and Zn from 18 Dutch soils

Eighteen Dutch soils were extracted in aqueous solutions at varying pH. Extracts were analyzed for Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn by ICP-AES. Extract dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was also concentrated onto a macroreticular resin and fractionation into three operationally defined fractions: hydrophilic acids (Hyd), humic acids (HA) and fulvic acids (FA). In this manner, change in absolute solution concentration and relative percentage for each fraction could be calculated as a function of extraction equilibrium pH. The soils were also analyzed for solid phase total organic carbon and total recoverable metals (EPA Method 3051). Partitioning coefficients were calculated for the metals and organic carbon (OC) based on solid phase concentrations (less the metal or OC removed by the extraction) divided by solution concentrations. Cu and Pb concentrations in solution as a function of extract equilibrium pH are greatest at low and high pH resulting in parabolic desorption/dissolution curves. While processes such as proton competition and proton promoted dissolution can account for high solution metal concentrations at low pH, these processes cannot account for higher Cu and Pb concentrations at high pH. DOC increases with increasing pH, concurrently with the increase in Cu and Pb solution concentrations. While the absolute concentrations of FA and HA generally increase with increasing pH, the relative proportional increase is greatest for HA . Variation in HA concentrations spans three orders of magnitude while FA concentrations vary an order of magnitude over the pH range examined. Correlation analysis strongly suggests that HA plays a major role in increasing the concentration of solution Cu and Pb with increasing pH in the 18 soils studied. The percentage of the OC that was due to FA was nearly constant over a wide pH range although the FA concentration increased with increasing pH and its concentration was greater than that of the HA fraction at lower pH values (pH = 3-5). Thus, in more acidic environments, FA may play a larger role than HA in governing organo-metallic interactions. For Cd, Ni, and Zn, the desorption/dissolution pattern shows high metal solution concentrations at low pH with slight increases in solution concentrations at extremely high pH values (pH>10). The results presented here suggest that the effects of dissolved organic carbon on the mobilization of Cd, Ni, and Zn may only occur in systems governed by very high pH. At high pH, it is difficult to distinguish in this study whether the slightly increased solution-phase concentrations of these cations is due to DOC or hydrolysis reactions. These high pH environments would rarely occur in natural settings.     

Distribution of Cd,Cu, Fe,Mn, Pb and Zn in selected tissues of juvenile whales stranded in the SE Gulf of California (Mexico)

With the aim of knowing the concentration and distribution of essential and nonessential metals in selected tissues of whales, analysis of Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn were carried out in kidney, liver and muscle of the gray whale Eschrichtius robustus and the sperm whale Physeter catodon. Whales were found stranded in the southeast Gulf of California. Individuals were in a juvenile stage; mean length of whales was 9.3 m for E. robustus and 7 m for P. catodon. Sequence of metal concentrations was Fe>Zn>Cu>Mn>Cd>Pb in E. robustus, and Fe>Zn>Cu>Cd>Mn>Pb in P. catodon. In E. robustus, highest concentrations of Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn (17.2, 19.6, 0.9 and 388 microg g(-1), respectively) were measured in liver, Cd (5.7 microg g(-1)) in kidney and Fe (1009 microg g(-1)) in muscle. In P. catodon, the highest levels of Cu, Fe and Pb (48.6, 5200 and 4.2 microg g(-1), respectively) were found in liver, Cd and Zn (94 and 183 microg g(-1)) in kidney and Mn (8 microg g(-1)) in muscle. Metal concentrations reported here were not considered to contribute to the stranding of specimens.     

Toxicities and tolerances of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in a primary producer (Isochrysis galbana) and in a primary consumer (Perna viridis)

Studies on toxicities and tolerances of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in the brown alga Isochrysis galbana and in the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis were conducted by short-term bioassays using endpoints growth production and mortality, respectively. The 5-day EC(50) and 24-h LC(50) of these heavy metals were determined in the brown alga and mussel, respectively. The EC(50) values calculated for the alga were 0.74 mg/l for Cd, 0.91 mg/l for Cu, 1.40 mg/l for Pb and 0.60 mg/l for Zn. The LC(50) values for the mussels were 1.53 mg/l for Cd, 0.25 mg/l for Cu, 4.12 mg/l for Pb and 3.20 mg/l for Zn. These LC(50) values were within the concentration ranges as reported by other authors who used P. viridis as the test organism. Based on these EC(50) and LC(50) values, the alga was most sensitive to Zn, followed by Cd, Cu and Pb while the mussel was most sensitive to Cu, followed by Cd, Zn and Pb. Differences in the trophic levels, metal handling strategies, biology and ecology of the primary producer (brown alga) and the primary consumer (mussel) are believed to be the plausible causes for the different toxicities and tolerances of the metals studied.     

210Pb geochronology and trace metal fluxes (Cd, Cu and Pb) in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, South Pacific of Mexico

Distributions of Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn and Pb were analyzed in a sediment core collected in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, an important fisheries region located in the South Pacific of Mexico, where data on metal accumulation and accretion rates were previously almost nonexistent. Depth profiles of metal concentrations were converted to time-based profiles by using a 210Pb-derived vertical accretion rate, estimated to be 0.05 cm year(-1) on the average. Sediments were dated up to 8 cm depth, corresponding to a layer of ca. 140 years old. The historical changes of metal accumulation along the sediment core have shown a moderate enrichment of Cd, Cu and Pb concentrations at present, of about threefold the corresponding background concentrations. Chronological trace metal records showed that metal fluxes have increased over the last 20 years, reaching the maximum values at present of 2.5, 22.5 and 45.8 (microg cm(-2) year(-1)) for Cd, Pb and Cu, respectively. These increments in metal fluxes are likely influenced by the development of anthropogenic land-based activities since over this period of time oil production activities in the region have had a significant development.     

Citric and Oxalic Acids Effect on Pb and Zn Uptake by Maize and Winter Wheat

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of citric and oxalic acids effect on Pb and Zn uptake by corn and winter wheat. The experiment was employed with citric acid (CA) applied at 3 rates (0, 1.5 and 3.0 mmol kg^?1 soil), oxalic acid (OA) at 3 rates (0, 1.5 and 3.0mmol kg^?1 soil) and citric acid combined with oxalic acid (1.5 mmol citric acid combined with 1.5 mmol oxalic acid kg^?1). Two types of soil were chose in the experiment. One was collected from the agricultural soil near a battery-recycling factory in Anhui province, China (site A) and the other was collected from a Pb-Zn mine residues in Hunan province, China (site B). The results showed that soil pH varied with the different treatment of citric and oxalic acids. However, there were no differences in all the treatments. 3.0mmol CA kg^?1 soil addition significantly increased the concentrations of the CaCl₂-extractable Pb and Zn and other treatments have no significantly increased. The highest shoot concentrations of Pb and Zn in both species occurred in application of 3.0 mmol CA/kg^?1 soil and shoot concentrations of Pb and Zn in both species were significantly higher than the controls in this treatment. Shoot yields declined with application of citric and oxalic acids, indicating that the plants were sensitive to the toxicity of the metals or the amendments. The highest Pb uptake values by maize and wheat werell2.3 and 77.2 μg pot1 in soil of site A, and occurred with the control and 3.0 mmol CA/kg^?1 soil respectively.     

Correlations between speciation of Cd,Cu, Pb And Zn in sediment and their concentrations in total soft tissue of green-lipped mussel Perna viridis from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Total concentrations and speciation of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in surface sediment samples were correlated with the respective metal measured in the total soft tissue of the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis, collected from water off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The aim of this study is to relate the possible differences in the accumulation patterns of the heavy metals in P. viridis to those in the surface sediment. The sequential extraction technique was employed to fractionate the sediment into 'freely leachable and exchangeable' (EFLE), 'acid-reducible,' 'oxidisable-organic' and 'resistant' fractions. The results showed that significant (P<.05) correlations were observed between Cd in P. viridis and Cd in the sediment (EFLE fraction and total Cd), Cu in P viridis and Cu in the sediment (EFLE and 'acid-reducible' fractions and total Cu) and Pb in P viridis and Pb in the sediment ('oxidisable-organic' fraction and total Pb). No significant correlation (P > .05) was found between Zn in P viridis and all the sediment geochemical fractions of Zn and total Zn in the sediment. This indicated that Zn was possibly regulated from the soft tissue of P. viridis. The present results supported the use of P viridis as a suitable biomonitoring agent for Cd, Cu and Pb.     

Citric and Oxalic Acids Effect on Pb and Zn Uptake by Maize and Winter Wheat

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of citric and oxalic acids effect on Pb and Zn uptake by corn and winter wheat. The experiment was employed with citric acid (CA) applied at 3 rates (0, 1.5 and 3.0 mmol kg-1 soil), oxalic acid (OA) at 3 rates (0, 1.5 and 3.0mmol kg-1 soil) and citric acid combined with oxalic acid (1.5 mmol citric acid combined with 1.5 mmol oxalic acid kg-1). Two types of soil were chose in the experiment. One was collected from the agricultural soil near a battery-recycling factory in Anhui province, China (site A) and the other was collected from a Pb-Zn mine residues in Hunan province, China (site B). The results showed that soil pH varied with the different treatment of citric and oxalic acids. However, there were no differences in all the treatments. 3.0mmol CA kg-1 soil addition significantly increased the concentrations of the CaCI2-extractable Pb and Zn and other treatments have no significantly increased. The highest shoot concentrations of Pb and Zn     

The interaction of heavy metals with urban soils: sorption behaviour of Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn with a typical mixed brownfield deposit

This study investigated the sorption characteristics and release of selected heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn) from a typical urban soil material from a derelict brownfield site in Western Scotland, UK. The study aimed to evaluate contaminant interactions with an urban substrate, comprising a mix of mineral soil and residue materials (e.g. brick, concrete, wood). This type of material has received little consideration in the literature to date. Soil samples were subject to a sequence of test involving batch equilibration and dynamic leaching, in single (non-competitive) and multi-element (competitive) solutions. The batch experiments were carried out in unadjusted and close to soil field pH conditions (pH 2 and 7, respectively). The equilibrium adsorption capacity for heavy metals was measured and extrapolated using the Langmuir isotherm. The parameters of the isotherms x(m) (the maximum amount adsorbed per unit mass of adsorbent (mg/g)) and b (adsorption constant (m(3)/g)) were calculated for Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb as single-element and multi-element solutions. The adsorption from the single-element solution was more effective than adsorption under multi-element conditions, due to competitive effects. For example, the adsorption of copper from a single-element solution was over four times greater than for a multi-element solution. In the case of Cr and Zn, migration of metal from soil to solution was observed. Adsorption capacity at pH 2 followed the order Cr>Cu>Pb>Cd and at pH 7 Cd>Zn, with precipitation affecting Cu and Pb behaviour. During the column leaching experiment, most of the heavy metals were irreversibly bound to the soil, but in the case of Cr some movement from soil into solution was observed. The results also showed that Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were removed from the solution and adsorbed on the soil. No significant difference in the metal removal from single- and multi-element solutions was observed. Overall, the urban residue behaved in a similar manner to mineral soils despite a significant component of anthropogenic solid materials.     

Pb, Zn, and Cu levels in tree barks as indicator of atmospheric pollution

Barks of seven species of trees were sampled at 32 locations having different pollution levels in Abeokuta, Nigeria. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cu were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The Pb and Zn contents, 1.9-159.8 and 16.5-659.1 micrograms g-1, dry weight respectively, correlate with traffic volume, indicating pollution from anthropogenic sources. The results obtained for Cu, 4.2-20.7 micrograms g-1, dry weight, though lower, were still significant but did not show any correlation with traffic density. The study also confirms the suitability of Azadirachta indica (Dogoyaro--a very popular local tree) as a suitable bio-indicator of aerial fallout of heavy metals.     

The effects of FeCl3 on the distribution of the heavy metals Cd, Cu, Cr, and Zn in a simulated multimetal incineration system

Recognizing that waste-derived chlorine can enhance heavy metal emissions by forming volatile metallic chlorides during municipal solid waste (MSW) combustion, and that in Taiwan, FeCl3-containing sewage sludge may either be landfilled or coincinerated with other MSW, this study thus investigated the effects of FeCl3 on the speciation and partitioning of heavy metals in a multimetal incineration system by using a tubular furnace and FeCl3-spiked simulated wastes. The molar ratio of chlorine content to heavy metal content (referred to as the Cl/ M ratio), ranging from 3 to 200, was used as a parameter to evaluate the effects of chlorine on the movement of heavy metals between the incinerator discharges. Results indicate that speciation and partitioning were related to the affinity between the chlorine and the heavy metals and between chlorine and hydrogen in the combustion system. The effectiveness of increasing the Cl/M ratio to the formation potential of metallic chlorides and on the shift of heavy metals from the bottom ash to the fly ash and/or the flue gases was found to have in increasing order as follows: Zn>Cu>Cr, a phenomenon basically reflecting the volatility of the heavy metals and their chlorides formed during combustion.     

Chemical speciation and phytoavailability of Zn, Cu, Ni and Cd in soil amended with fly ash-stabilized sewage sludge

A sequential extraction method was used to determine chemical forms of Cu, Zn, Ni and Cd in fly ash-stabilized sludge. A loamy acid soil amended with fly ash-stabilized sludge was used to grow corn under greenhouse conditions. Sewage sludge amended with coal fly ash can reduce the availability of Cu, Zn, Ni and Cd in the sludge. Increasing fly ash amendment rate significantly reduced DTPA-extractable Cu, Zn, Ni and Cd concentrations. Percentages of Cu, Zn and Ni in residual fraction increased with an increase in fly ash amendment rates. Majority of Cu was associated with organic form, but Zn and Ni were associated with Fe-Mn oxide and residual forms. Addition of ash-amended sludge to soil significantly increased dry mass of corn. With coal fly ash amendment rate increasing, concentrations of Zn and Cu in shoot tissues of corn decreased significantly, but concentrations of Cd and Ni did not change significantly. Significant correlations were found between concentrations of Cu and Zn in corn shoot and oxide and total Cu fractions, and all chemical fractions of Zn in fly ash-stabilized sludge, respectively. Hence, ash amendment significantly reduced the availability of heavy metals by chemical modification of their chemical speciation into less available forms.     

Evaluation of the sensitivity of marine microalgal strains to the heavy metals, Cu, As, Sb, Pb and Cd

The sensitivity of nine marine microalgal species (consisting of five divisions and seven genera) to the five heavy metals, Cu(II), As(V), Sb(III), Pb(II) and Cd(II) was studied by using a fluorometric growth-inhibition assay with 96-well microplates. The algal strains studied were Cylindrotheca sp. and the LPP group that respectively characterize aggregating and filamentous types, and Chlorococcum littorale, Chlorococcum sp., Isochrysis galbana, Tetraselmis tetrathele, Heterocapsa sp., Synechococcus sp. and Prasinococcus sp. for types that occur as single cells. A good linear relationship was observed between the chlorophyll a concentration and intensity of chlorophyll fluorescence (485-nm excitation filter and 645-nm emission filter) when the chlorophyll a concentration was within the range of 0.10-5.0 microg ml(-1). A starting cell concentration of 0.10 or 0.25 microg Chl a ml(-1) was therefore selected. In accordance with OECD 201 standard procedures, the IC(50) value (concentration of a metal producing 50% growth inhibition relative to the control) was determined 72 h after adding a heavy metal by using the biomass integral. The microplate toxicity test used in this study is considered to be applicable to diverse algae, not only enumerating species but also hardly enumerating ones.     

Remobilisation of 109Cd, 65Zn and 54Mn from freshwater-labelled river sediments when mixed with seawater

A major fraction of trace metals transported by rivers is associated with sediments, especially during flooding, when erosion and resuspension increase sediment loads. Upon contact with seawater in estuaries, changes in ionic strength and pH may remobilise trace metals from sediment surfaces into more bioavailable forms. The objective of the present work was to investigate time-dependent interactions between trace metals and freshwater sediments and their potential remobilisation upon contact with seawater. Two river sediments (one organic and one inorganic) were labelled with 109Cd2+, 65Zn2+ and 54Mn2+ radioactive tracers for periods up to 6 months. Sorption of tracers occurred rapidly (> or = 80% sorption, < 1 h), followed by a slower approach to pseudoequilibrium. Kd(6 months) were estimated as 460, 480 and 2200 ml/g (inorganic sediment) compared to 5300, 4000 and 1200 ml/g (organic sediment) for 109Cd, 65Zn and 54Mn, respectively. Remobilisation of tracers from labelled sediments was studied using sequential extractions. Artificial seawater extracts simulated an estuarine environment. Subsequent extractions provided information about more strongly sorbed tracer fractions within sediments. Remobilisation of 109Cd by seawater was significant (> 65%) and least affected by sediment type or freshwater labelling time. Redistribution of Cd to strongly bound phases was minimal (4% and 1% of 109Cd in strongly oxidisable fractions). Seawater remobilisation of 65Zn was significantly greater from the organic sediment (54%) compared to the inorganic sediment (8%), where a large fraction of 65Zn (14%) became irreversibly bound. Similarly, more 54Mn was remobilised by seawater from the organic sediment than the inorganic sediment (66% and 3% remobilised, respectively), i.e., 54Mn became more strongly bound in the inorganic sediment. A simple three-box model, based on first-order differential equations, was used to describe the interaction between tracers in spiked freshwater and two operationally defined sediment fractions ("seawater exchangeable" and "seawater unexchangeable") up to 6 months of freshwater labelling. Model simulations were fitted to experiment data and apparent rate constants were calculated using numerical optimisation methods. Sorption ratios from modelling data (i.e., k1/k2) were greater for organic compared to inorganic sediments, while fixation ratios were higher in inorganic sediments. In conclusion, trace metals can be remobilised from sediments on contact with seawater in estuaries. High organic content in sediments increased initial sorption of tracers but inhibited redistribution to more strongly bound fractions over time, resulting in greater remobilisation of tracers when in contact with seawater.     

Complex toxic effects of Cd2+, Zn2+, and acid rain on growth of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L)

Complex toxic effects of Cd2+, Zn2+, and acid rain on growth of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) were studied in a pot experiment by measurement of fresh weights of the plants, determination of surperoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and lipid peroxidation (MDA) in the plant organs, and observation of injury symptoms. The experimental results demonstrated that all treatments of Cd2+, Zn2+, and/or acid rain significantly decreased fresh weights of kidney bean and caused toxic effects on growth of the plants, especially higher amounts of Cd2+ and Zn2+ and higher acidity of acid rain. Combination of these three pollutant factors resulted in more serious toxic effects than any single pollutant and than combinations of any two pollutants. SOD, POD, and MDA in the plant organs changed with different pollution levels, but MDA content in the leaves showed the best relationship between the pollution levels and toxic effects.