University of Tehran/Springer International Journal of Environmental Research 1735-6865 9 1 2015 01 01 PhytoremeDiation ofHeavyMetalsContaminated Environments: Screening forNativeAccumulatorPlants inZanjan-Iran 309 316 902 10.22059/ijer.2015.902 EN G. Saba Environmental Science Research Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, University of Zanjan, 45371-38791, Zanjan, Iran A.H. Parizanganeh Environmental Science Research Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, University of Zanjan, 45371-38791, Zanjan, Iran A. Zamani Environmental Science Research Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, University of Zanjan, 45371-38791, Zanjan, Iran J. Saba Department of Plant breeding, Faculty ofAgriculture,University of Zanjan, 45371-38791,Zanjan, Iran Journal Article 2014 12 31 Environmental pollution with heavy metals is a global struggle. Phytoremediation is an effective<br />and low-cost technology for refinement of polluted soils. This research was conducted in Zanjan province<br />(located in North West Iran) where metallurgical industries are developed quickly. In this study, based on the<br />heavy metals contamination of soil in the studied area six sampling sites were selected taking into account the<br />industrial distributions as well as the low/high traffic congestions. Leaves from eight tree species namely:<br />Populus nigra, Ulmus pumila, Fraxinus excelsior, Robinia pseudoacacia, Acer hyracanum, Salix alba, Thuja<br />orientalis, and Cupressus sempervirens var arizonica, were sampled and analyzed by ICP-OES (Spectro<br />Genesis) for their heavy metal contents (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb). Results showed that heavy<br />metals in stations close to the lead and zinc smelting industrial complexes are much higher than average<br />showing a high correlation with their respective metal concentrations in soils. This clearly indicates that heavy<br />metal contents in tree leaves in the studied area are solely related to industrial activities notably National<br />Iranian Lead and Zinc (NILZ) as well as Zinc Specialized Industrial Complex (ZSIC) companies. Based on the<br />results, the studied native plants accumulate different metals selectively and Populus nigra was found to be<br />the best accumulator plant for Mn, Zn and Cd, Thuja orientalis, as the best phytoextractor for Fe, and<br />Cupressus sempervirens var arizonica is the best species among the studied native plants for accumulation of<br />Pb. https://ijer.ut.ac.ir/article_902_5144331ef2f3396d2e88763e7404295a.pdf