Phytoremediation for co-contaminated soils of chromium and benzo[a]pyrene using Zea mays L.

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to investigate the single effect of benzoa]pyrene (Ba]P) or chromium (Cr) and the joint effect of Cr–Ba]P on the growth of Zea mays, its uptake and accumulation of Cr, and the dissipation of Ba]P over 60 days. Results showed that single or joint contamination of Cr and Ba]P did not affect the plant growth relative to control treatments. However, the occurrence of Ba]P had an enhancing effect on the accumulation and translocation of Cr. The accumulation of Cr in shoot of plant significantly increased by?≥?79 % in 50 mg kg^?1 Cr–Ba]P (1, 5, and 10 mg kg^?1) treatments and by?≥?86 % in 100 mg kg^?1 Cr–Ba]P (1, 5, and 10 mg kg^?1) treatments relative to control treatments. The presence of plants did not enhance the dissipation of Ba]P in lower (1and 5 mg kg^?1) Ba]P contaminated soils; however, over 60 days of planting Z. mays seemed to enhance the dissipation of Ba]P by over 60 % in 10 mg kg^?1 single contaminated soil and by 28 to 41 % in 10 mg kg^?1Ba]P co-contaminated soil. This suggests that Z. mays might be a useful plant for the remediation of Cr–Ba]P co-contaminated soil.