Heavy metals accumulation in suburban roadside plants of a tropical area (Jengka, Malaysia)

• Published in: Ecological processes Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Sulaiman, Fazrul Razman, Hamzah, Huda Asilah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 13.08.2018; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: absorption; Anthropogenic factors; Athyrium; Bioaccumulation; bioaccumulation factor; Bioconcentration factor; Biological magnification; Cadmium; Chromolaena odorata; Copper; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Heavy metals; Iron; Lantana camara; Lead; Leaves; Malaysia; Metal concentrations; Metals; Plant roots; Plant species; principal component analysis; Principal components analysis; rhizosphere; Roadside plants; Root zone; roots; Semi-urban; Soil; stems; Translocation; Translocation ratio; Tropical climate; Uptake; Malaysia; Roadside plants; Bioconcentration factor; Translocation ratio; Semi-urban; Metals
• ISSN: 2192-1709; 2192-1709
• DOI: 10.1186/s13717-018-0139-3

Introduction This study aims to examine the uptake and translocation of Cd, Cu, Fe, and Pb in different parts of three roadside plant species grown in the semi-urban of Jengka, Pahang, Malaysia. Methods Heavy metal concentrations were determined from various parts of Athyrium esculentum (AE), Chromolaena odorata (CO), and Lantana camara (LC). The bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation ratio of heavy metals from soils to plants were estimated. Results Fe showed the highest metal concentration determined (< 850 mg kg −1 ), while Cd showed the lowest metal concentration observed (< 0.12 mg kg −1 ) in all plants. Heavy metal concentration in the roadside plants was higher than metal determined in the same species from an uncontaminated site. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggests anthropogenic and natural sources of heavy metal. Plant roots slightly enriched by Cd and Pb (BCF < 1), while the leaves absorbed and accumulated Cu and Fe (BCF > 1). The translocation ratio of four metals suggests that absorption of the three plants had the rank: root > stem > leaves. Conclusion The metals in the root zone transported weakly to the stem but more strongly mobilized to leaves when available in the stems. A comprehensive study of heavy metal concentration in a variety of roadside plants in the tropical area should be done in the future ensuring the precise source and translocation mechanisms.