Effect of liming on plant accumulation of cadmium under upland or flooded conditions

Liming a Cd-amended red earth (typical hapludalf) decreased plant shoot Cd content both in upland and in flooded conditions. The effect was due to the restriction of the total uptake of Cd from soil and the Cd transfer from roots to shoots following liming. Pot soil samples were sequentially extracted with 1 M ammonium acetate, 0.125 M Cu(II) acetate, and 1 m HNO3 to fractionate Cd into exchangeable, complexed, and acid-soluble forms. Results showed that soil flooding decreased exchangeable Cd and increased Cd in the complexed fraction. Liming also transferred Cd from exchangeable fraction to other lower available fractions depending on water regimes. With upland conditions, the Cd was transferred to the residual fraction, and to a lesser extent to the acid-soluble fraction, whereas in flooded soil the lost exchangeable Cd was recovered mainly in complexed fraction where the Cd was potentially more available for plants compared with that in residual and in acid-soluble fractions. Therefore, soil liming for controlling plant Cd uptake would be more favourable in upland rather than flooded conditions.     

Lead contamination in tea garden soils and factors affecting its bioavailability

The consumption of heavy metals is detrimental to human health and most countries restrict the concentration of metals such as lead (Pb) in food and beverages. Recent tests have detected high Pb concentrations in certain commercial brands of tea leaves and this finding has raised concerns for both producers and consumers. To investigate what factors may be contributing to the increase in Pb accumulation in the tea leaves we collected tea leaves and soils from tea producing areas and analyzed them for Pb concentration, pH and organic matter content. The result showed the Pb concentration of 47% investigated tea leaves samples was beyond 2 mg kg(-1), the permissible levels given by China. The total Pb concentration in the surface and subsurface soil layers averaged 36.4 and 32.2 mg kg(-1), respectively which fall below of the 60 mg kg(-1) limit provided for organic tea gardens in China. The pH of the tea garden soils was severely acidic with the lowest pH of 3.37. Soils under older tea gardens tended to have a lower pH and a higher Pb bioavailability which was defined as the amount of lead extracted by CaCl2 solution than those under younger tea gardens. We found that the concentration of bioavailable Pb and the percentage of bioavailable Pb (bioavailable Pb relative to total Pb concentration) were positively correlated with soil H+ activity and soil organic matter content, and the organic matter accumulation contribute more effects on Pb bioavailability in these two factors. We conclude that soil acidification and organic matter accumulation could contribute to increasing Pb bioavailability in soil and that these could increase Pb uptake and accumulation in the tea leaves.     

Scale and causes of lead contamination in Chinese tea

We investigated the scale and causes of Pb contamination in Chinese tea. Lead concentrations in 1,225 tea samples collected nationally between 1999 and 2001 varied from <0.2 to 97.9 mg kg(-1) dry weight (DW), with 32% of the samples exceeding the national maximum permissible concentration (MPC) of 2.0 mg kg(-1) DW and a significant difference between tea types. There was an increasing trend in tea Pb concentration from 1989 to 2000. Proximity to highway and surface dust contamination were found to cause elevated Pb concentrations in tea leaves. Furthermore, Pb concentration in tea leaves correlated significantly and positively with soil extractable Pb, and negatively with soil pH, suggesting that root uptake of Pb from soils also contributed to Pb accumulation in tea. Potential contributions to human Pb intake from drinking tea were small at the median or national MPC Pb values, but considerable at the highest concentration found in the study.     

The effects of chemical remediation treatments on the extractability and speciation of cadmium and lead in contaminated soils

Two rural soils contaminated by cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) were used to evaluate the effect of different chemical treatments on changes in speciation and extractability of Cd and Pb, and in phytoavailability to wheat. Triplicates of seven chemical treatments were tested to compare and evaluate the remediation techniques for contaminated soils using pot experiments. Treatments applied were calcium carbonate, a high quantity of phosphate salt, hog composts, iron oxide, manganese oxide, zeolite, and unamended control. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) was planted in the different amended soils for a further one month to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments on uptake of Cd and Pb by the wheat shoots. Results indicated that addition of calcium carbonate, manganese oxide, or zeolite reduces the extractability of Cd or Pb in both soils, and significantly reduce the uptake of Cd and Pb by wheat shoots. Changes in the extractability and metal sequential fractionations indicate that the exchangeable (or available) form of Cd and Pb in two soils can be transformed into unavailable forms after these amendments.     

Acid waters in upland Wales: causes, effects and remedies

Although situated on the western seaboard of the UK, and hence in the path of predominantly maritime air masses arriving directly from the Atlantic, Wales receives acidic deposition when winds are from the east. In conjunction with the highly base-poor rocks and soils found in the region, significant acidification of surface waters has occurred. Extensive afforestation in the Welsh uplands in the last 40 years has exacerbated acidification effects by elevating the loading of acidic anions received by catchments, thus increasing the concentrations of aluminium in watercourses. In considering possible remedial strategies, results of liming investigations from the Llyn Brianne Project in mid-Wales are presented. These studies have mainly involved liming small streams by a variety of catchment liming techniques. The most effective catchment treatments were those where finely ground CaCO3 was applied to the hydrological source areas at rates of up to 25 tonnes ha(-1). Possible drawbacks with such liming are discussed, although it is emphasized that liming is likely to be a component of any remedial strategy in the next 30 years until emissions reductions greater than those proposed in the forthcoming EC Directive are implemented.     

Leaching and uptake of heavy metals by ten different species of plants during an EDTA-assisted phytoextraction process

In a pot experiment, the potential use of 10 plant species, including six dicotyledon species and four monocotyledon species, was investigated for the EDTA-enhanced phytoextraction of Pb from contaminated soil. Mung bean and buckwheat had a higher sensitivity to the EDTA treatment in soils. In the 2.5 and 5.0 mmol kg(-1) EDTA treatments, the Pb concentrations in the shoots of the six dicotyledon species ranged from 1,000 to 3,000 mg kg(-1) of dry matter, which were higher than those of the monocotyledon species. The highest amount of phytoextracted Pb (2.9 mg Pb pot(-1)) was achieved in sunflowers, due to the high concentration of Pb in their shoots and large biomass, followed by corns (1.8 mg Pb pot(-1)) and peas (1.1 mg Pb pot(-1)). The leaching behavior of heavy metals as a result of applying EDTA to the surface of the soil was also investigated using short soil-leaching columns (9.0-cm diameter, 20-cm height) by the percolation of artificial rainfall. About 3.5%, 15.8%, 13.7% and 20.6% of soil Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd, respectively, were leached from the soil columns after the application of 5.0 mmol kg(-1) of EDTA. The growth of sunflowers in the soil columns had little effect on the amount of metals that were leached out. This was probably due to the shallowness of the layer of soil, the short time-span of the uptake of metals by the plant and the plant's simple root systems.     

不同纳米修复剂对污染土壤中胡萝卜吸收、转运Cd的影响

通过盆栽实验研究不同纳米修复剂(羟基磷灰石HAP、赤泥RM、Fe3O4、胡敏酸-Fe3O4)对2种不同污染土壤Cd吸收、转运的影响。结果表明,上述纳米修复剂均可显著增加胡萝卜植株生物量,显著提高植株Cd胁迫的耐受指数;不同土壤施用不同纳米修复剂均显著降低胡萝卜植株Cd的含量,并且随着修复剂施加浓度的增加而显著降低;与对照相比,植株茎叶Cd含量最大降低达78.8%,根中Cd的含量最大降低67.8%;添加不同修复剂能不同程度地降低了土壤中Cd的转运系数和富集系数,这可能与施用不同纳米修复剂促进了土壤中非残留态Cd向残留态Cd的转化有关,总体而言,不同纳米型修复剂对降低Cd的有效性顺序为:RM～HAP>胡敏酸-Fe3O4>Fe3O4。     

Enhanced phytoextraction of Pb and other metals from artificially contaminated soils through the combined application of EDTA and EDDS

Chemically enhanced phytoextraction is achieved by the application of chelates to soils. Using pot experiments, the effect of the combined application of EDTA and EDDS on the uptake of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd by Zea mays L. was studied. Among the tested application ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 (EDTA/EDDS), 2:1 of EDTA:EDDS was the most efficient ratio for increasing the concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd in the shoots. The combined application of 3.33 mmol kg(-1) soil of EDTA+1.67 mmol kg(-1) soil of EDDS produced 650 mg kg(-1) of Pb in the shoots, which was 2.4 and 5.9 times the concentration of Pb in the shoots treated with 5 mmol kg(-1) of EDTA and EDDS alone, respectively. The total phytoextraction of Pb reached 1710 microg kg(-1) soil, which was 2.1 and 6.1 times the total Pb from 5 mmol kg(-1) EDTA and EDDS alone, respectively. The combined application of EDTA and EDDS also significantly increased the translocation of Pb from the roots to the shoots. The mechanism of enhancing the phytoextraction of Pb by the combined application of EDTA+EDDS did not involve a change in the pH of the soil. The increase in the phytoextraction of Pb by the shoots of Z. mays L. was more pronounced than the increase of Pb in the soil solution with the combined application of EDTA and EDDS. It was thought that the major role of EDDS might be to increase the uptake and translocation of Pb from the roots to the shoots of plants.     

EDDS and EDTA-enhanced phytoextraction of metals from artificially contaminated soil and residual effects of chelant compounds

The potential of 18 different plants to be used in the chemically enhanced phytoextraction of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd was assessed using pot experiments. Chrysanthemum coronarium L. was the species most sensitive to the application of EDTA, and had the highest enhancement of Cu and Pb concentrations in its shoots. Compared with EDTA, EDDS was more effective in enhancing the concentration of Cu in the shoots of Chrysanthemum coronarium L. and Zea mays L. grown on multi-metal contaminated soils. The EDTA-treated soil still had a significant ability to enhance the concentrations of Cu and Pb in the shoots of Zea mays L. six months after the chelant treatment. However, the EDDS-treated soil did not have any effect in enhancing the concentrations of metals in the shoots of Zea mays L. in the second crop test. The results may indicate that EDDS biodegrades more rapidly than EDTA in soil and is better in limiting potential metal leaching.     

Phytomanagement of strongly acidic,saline eutrophic wetlands polluted by mine wastes: The influence of liming and Sarcocornia fruticosa on metals mobility

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of combining liming and vegetation for the phytomanagement of strongly acidic, saline eutrophic wetlands polluted by mine wastes. Simulated soil profiles were constructed and four treatments were assayed: without liming + without plant, without liming + with plant, with liming + without plant and with liming + with plant. The plant species was the halophyte Sarcocornia fruticosa. Three horizons were differentiated: A (never under water), C1 (alternating flooding–drying conditions) and C2 (always under water). The soluble Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn concentrations were measured regularly for 18 weeks and a sequential extraction procedure was applied at the end of the experiment. Liming was effective (between ～70% and ～100%) in reducing the soluble Zn, Cu and Pb. In contrast, soluble Mn and Cd increased with liming, especially in the treatment with liming + with plant, where the concentrations were 2-fold higher than in the non-limed treatments. The amendment increased the contents of Zn, Mn and Cd bound to potentially-mobilisable soil fractions at the expense of the most-environmentally-inert fractions. Hence, the combined use of liming and vegetation may increase the long-term environmental risk of metals solubilisation.     

The EDTA effect on phytoextraction of single and combined metals-contaminated soils using rainbow pink (Dianthus chinensis)

Rainbow pink (Dianthus chinensis), a potential phytoextraction plant, can accumulate high concentrations of Cd from metal-contaminated soils. The soils used in this study were artificially added with different metals including (1) CK: original soil, (2) Cd-treated soil: 10 mg Cd kg(-1), (3) Zn-treated soil: 100 mg Zn kg(-1), (4) Pb-treated soil: 1000 mg Pb kg(-1), (5) Cd-Zn-treated soil: 10 mg Cd kg(-1) and 100 mg Zn kg(-1), (6) Cd-Pb-treated soil: 10 mg Cd kg(-1) and 1000 mg Pb kg(-1), (7) Zn-Pb-treated soil: 100 mg Zn kg(-1) and 1000 mg Pb kg(-1), and (8) Cd-Zn-Pb-treated soil: 10 mg Cd kg(-1), 100 mg Zn kg(-1), and 1000 mg Pb kg(-1). Three concentrations of 2Na-EDTA solutions (0 (control), 2, and 5 mmol kg(-1) soil) were added to the different metals-treated soils to study the influence of applied EDTA on single and combined metals-contaminated soils phytoextraction using rainbow pink. The results showed that the Cd, Zn, Pb, Fe, or Mn concentrations in different metals-treated soil solutions significantly increased after applying 5 mmol EDTA kg(-1) (p<0.05). The metal concentrations in different metals-treated soils extracted by deionized water also significantly increased after applying 5 mmol EDTA kg(-1) (p<0.05). Because of the high extraction capacity of both 0.005 M DTPA (pH 5.3) and 0.05 M EDTA (pH 7.0), applying EDTA did not significantly increase the Cd, Zn, or Pb concentration in both extracts for most of the treatments. Applying EDTA solutions can significantly increase the Cd and Pb concentrations in the shoots of rainbow pink (p<0.05). However, this was not statistically significant for Zn because of the low Zn concentration added into the contaminated soils. The results from this study indicate that applying 5 mmol EDTA kg(-1) can significantly increase the Cd, Zn, or Pb concentrations both in the soil solution or extracted using deionized water in single or combined metals-contaminated soils, thus increasing the accumulated metals concentrations in rainbow pink shoots. The proposed method worked especially well for Pb (p<0.05). The application of 2 mmol EDTA kg(-1) might too low to enhance the phytoextraction effect when used in silty clay soils.     

Uptake and accumulation of cadmium, lead and zinc by Siam weed [Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & Robinson

The Siam weed, Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & Robinson, Family Asteraceae, was found to be a new Pb hyperaccumulator by means of field surveys on Pb soil and hydroponic studies. Plants from field collection accumulated 1377 and 4236mgkg(-1) Pb in their shoots and roots, respectively, and could tolerate soil Pb concentrations up to 100000 mgkg(-1) with a translocation factor of 7.62. Very low concentrations of Cd and Zn were found in plants collected from the field. Under nutrient solution culture condition, C. odorata from the contaminated site (CS) and from non-contaminated site (NCS) grew normally with all three metals (Pb, Cd, Zn) supplied. However, the relative growth rates of all treated plants decreased with increased metal concentrations. The percentage uptakes of Pb, Cd, and Zn by C. odorata increased with increasing metal concentrations. Pb concentration in shoots and roots reached its highest values (1772.3 and 60655.7mgkg(-1), respectively) at a Pb supply level of 10mgl(-1). While the maximum concentrations of Cd (0.5mgl(-1)) in shoots and roots of C. odorata were 102.3 and 1440.9mgkg(-1), and the highest concentrations of Zn (20mgl(-1)) were 1876.0 and 7011.8mgkg(-1), respectively. The bioaccumulation coefficients of Pb and Cd were greater than 1000. These results confirm that C. odorata is a hyperaccumulator which grows rapidly, has substantial biomass, wide distribution and has a potential for the phytoremediation of metal contaminated soils.     

Arsenic hyperaccumulation by Pteris vittata from arsenic contaminated soils and the effect of liming and phosphate fertilisation

Pot experiments were carried out to investigate the potential of phytoremediation with the arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata in a range of soils contaminated with As and other heavy metals, and the influence of phosphate and lime additions on As hyperaccumulation by P. vittata. The fern was grown in 5 soils collected from Cornwall (England) containing 67-4550 mg As kg(-1) and different levels of metals. All soils showed a similar distribution pattern of As in different fractions in a sequential extraction, with more than 60% of the total As being associated with the fraction thought to represent amorphous and poorly-crystalline hydrous oxides of Fe and Al. The concentration of As in the fronds ranged from 84 to 3600 mg kg(-1), with 0.9-3.1% of the total soil As being taken up by P. vittata. In one soil which contained 5500 mg Cu kg(-1) and 1242 mg Zn kg(-1), P. vittata suffered from phytotoxicity and accumulated little As (0.002% of total). In a separate experiment, neither phosphate addition (50mg P kg(-1) soil) nor liming (4.6 g CaCO3 kg(-1) soil) was found to affect the As concentration in the fronds of P. vittata, even though phosphate addition increased the As concentration in the soil pore water. Between 4 and 7% of the total soil As was taken up by P. vittata in 4 cuttings in this experiment. The results indicate that P. vittata can hyperaccumulate As from naturally contaminated soils, but may be suitable for phytoremediation only in the moderately contaminated soils.     

Adsorption of Pb(II) on variable charge soils amended with rice-straw derived biochar

Two Ultisols and one Oxisol from tropical regions of southern China were incubated with rice straw biochar to investigate the effect of biochar on their surface charge and Pb(II) adsorption using batch methods. The incorporation of biochar induced a remarkable increase in soil cation exchange capacity after 30 d of incubation. The incorporation of biochar significantly increased the adsorption of Pb(II) by these variable charge soils; the enhancement of adsorption of Pb(II) by these soils increased with the addition level of biochar. Adsorption of Pb(II) involved both electrostatic and non-electrostatic mechanisms; however, biochar mainly increased Pb(II) adsorption through the non-electrostatic mechanism via the formation of surface complexes between Pb²⁺ and functional groups on biochar. There was greater enhancement of biochar on the non-electrostatic adsorption of Pb(II) by the variable charge soils at relatively low pH. Therefore, the incorporation of biochar decreased the activity and availability of Pb(II) to plants through increased non-electrostatic adsorption of Pb(II) by acidic variable charge soils.     

Impact of coal mine dump contaminated soils on elemental uptake by Spinacia oleracea (spinach)

The elemental uptake and the growth response of Spinacia oleracea (spinach) to the soil contaminated with the South African bituminous coal mine dump soil, viz. 0%, 5%, 15%, and 25% w/w, was investigated. The contaminated soils were analyzed for pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil organic matter (SOM), and concentrations of selected heavy metals. The pH, SOM, and CEC decreased with an increase in contamination indicating the acidic nature of coal mine soil and the raise in the soil binding sites. The distribution of Fe, Mn, Ni, Cd, and Pb in the in roots and leaves of the plants was determined in two stages of plant growth. Spinach showed high accumulation of Fe and increased levels of Ni and Cd with an increase in contamination. No plant growth was recorded with 25% contamination.     

Effects of EDTA on solubility of cadmium, zinc, and lead and their uptake by rainbow pink and vetiver grass

Rainbow pink (Dianthus chinensis), a potential phytoextraction plant, can accumulate high concentrations of Cd from contaminated soils. Vetiver grass (Vetiver zizanioides) has strong and long root tissues and is a potential phytostabilization plant since it can tolerate and grow well in soils contaminated with multiple heavy metals. Soil was moderately artificially contaminated by cadmium (20 mg/kg), zinc (500 mg/kg), and lead (1000 mg/kg) in pot experiments. Three concentrations of Na2-EDTA solution (0, 5, and 10 mmol/kg soil) were added to the contaminated soils to study the influence of EDTA solution on phytoextraction by rainbow pink or phytostabilization by vetiver grass. The results showed that the concentrations of Cd, Zn, and Pb in a soil solution of rainbow pink significantly increased following the addition of EDTA (p < 0.05). The concentrations of Cd and Pb in the shoots of rainbow pink also significantly increased after EDTA solution was applied (p < 0.05), but the increase for Zn was insignificant. EDTA treatment significantly increased the total uptake of Pb in the shoot, over that obtained with the control treatment (p < 0.001), but it did not significantly increase the total uptake of Cd and Zn. The concentrations of Zn and Pb in the shoots of rainbow pink are significantly correlated with those in the soil solution, but no relationship exists with concentrations in vetiver grass. The toxicity of highly contaminating metals did not affect the growth of vetiver grass, which was found to grow very well in this study. Results of this study indicate that rainbow pink can be considered to be a potential phytoextraction plant for removing Cd or Zn from metal-contaminated soils, and that vetiver grass can be regarded as a potential phytostabilization plant that can be grown in a site contaminated with multiple heavy metals.     

Uptake of 134Cs in the shoots of Amaranthus tricolor and Amaranthus cruentus

Amaranthus tricolor L. and Amaranthus cruentus L. were grown in pots containing 7.5 kg soils artificially contaminated with three levels of 134Cs activity: 5.55 x 10(5) Bq pot-1, 1.11 x 10(6) Bq pot(-)1, and 1.665 x 10(6) Bq pot(-1), respectively. Forty-nine days after sowing and growth, plants were harvested. The plants growing in soils with increasing 134Cs concentrations showed increasing concentration of this radionuclide in shoots. There were significant differences in uptake of 134Cs applied to soils between and within the plant species, depending on the initial 134Cs concentrations. The plant species showed different responses to the addition of (NH4)2SO4 to soils. Biomass production of both species was reduced in pots treated with (NH4)2SO4. (NH4)2SO4 application decreased the uptake of 134Cs by A. tricolor but increased the accumulation of 134Cs by A. cruentus, showing that chemicals with the highest efficiency to enhance the desorption of 134Cs might play an unexpected role in transferring the radionuclide to shoots.     

Phosphate-induced lead immobilization from different lead minerals in soils under varying pH conditions

This study investigated phosphate-induced lead immobilization from different Pb minerals in soils under varying pHs. Four soils were used, including one Pb-contaminated soil (NC-Soil) and three soils spiked with litharge (PbO), cerrusite (PbCO3), or anglesite (PbSO4), referred to as PbO-soil, PbCO3-soil, and PbSO4-soil, respectively. The soils were equilibrated with KCl and Ca(H2PO4)(2).H2O under pH of 3-7. At low pH (3 and 5), Pb solubility followed PbO-soil>PbCO3-soil>PbSO4-soil; while at pH=7, it was PbSO4-soil>PbO-soil>PbCO3-soil. Phosphate decreased Pb dissolution time from >180 to <60 min and reduced soluble Pb by 67-100%. This was mostly via transformation of Pb minerals into chloropyromorphite [Pb(5)(PO(4))(3)Cl]. Our results indicated that P addition can effectively transform various Pb minerals into insoluble chloropyromorphite in soils. This transformation was more significant at acidic condition (e.g., pH相似文献   

Lead contamination in tea leaves and non-edaphic factors affecting it

Recent tests have detected high lead (Pb) concentrations in some commercial brands of tea leaves and this finding has raised concerns due to the possible health-related problems associated with Pb poisoning. In present research, we investigated the Pb contamination in tea leaves produced in Zhejiang province in China. Pb concentrations in all tea leaves sampled were below 5 mg/kg, the permissible levels given by Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, indicating that Pb contamination in this province is not excessive. We then investigated the non-edaphic factors that may potentially contribute to Pb accumulation in tea leaves. Pb concentration in tea leaves was found to be positively correlated with the industrialization level of a district (R = 0.83, the significant level at P < 0.05), and greater amounts of Pb were washed from the leaves of plants in districts with more industrial activity. This suggests that Pb accumulation in tea leaves could, in part, be attributed to industrial activity through the precipitation of atmospheric Pb. Furthermore greater amounts of Pb were washed from the leaves of plants growing near road than those growing farther away from road. This trend indicates that automobile activity was another likely contributor to Pb accumulation in tea. Pb content of green tea was also affected by the processing of the leaves in the factory. In particular the twisting and water-removal stages caused increases in Pb content in the tea product. This study suggests that non-edaphic factors also contribute to the Pb accumulation in tea.     

Effects of lead contamination on soil microbial activity and rice physiological indices in soil-Pb-rice (Oryza sativa L.) system

The effect of lead (Pb) treatment on the soil microbial activities (soil microbial biomass and soil basal respiration) and rice physiological indices were studied by greenhouse pot experiment. Pb was applied as lead acetate at six different levels in two different paddy soils, namely 0 (control), 100, 300, 500, 700, 900 mg kg-1 soil. The results showed that the application of Pb at lower level (<300 mg kg-1) as lead acetate resulted in a slight increase in soil microbial activities compared with the control, and had an inhibitory influence at high concentration (>500 mg Pb kg-1 soil), which might be the critical concentration of Pb causing a significant decline in the soil microbial activities. However, the degree of influence on soil microbial activities by Pb was related to the clay and organic matter contents of the soils. On the other hand, when the level of Pb treatments increased to 500 mg kg-1, there was ecological risk for both soil microbial activities and plants. The results also revealed that there was a consistent trend that the chlorophyll contents increased initially, and then decreased gradually with increase in Pb concentration. Pb was effective in inducing proline accumulation and its toxicity causes oxidative stress in rice plants. In a word, soil microbial activities and rice physiological indices, therefore, may be sensitive indicators reflecting environmental stress in soil-Pb-rice system.