PhytoremeDiation ofHeavyMetalsContaminated Environments: Screening forNativeAccumulatorPlants inZanjan-Iran

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Environmental Science Research Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, University of Zanjan, 45371-38791, Zanjan, Iran

2 Department of Plant breeding, Faculty ofAgriculture,University of Zanjan, 45371-38791,Zanjan, Iran

Abstract

Environmental pollution with heavy metals is a global struggle. Phytoremediation is an effective
and low-cost technology for refinement of polluted soils. This research was conducted in Zanjan province
(located in North West Iran) where metallurgical industries are developed quickly. In this study, based on the
heavy metals contamination of soil in the studied area six sampling sites were selected taking into account the
industrial distributions as well as the low/high traffic congestions. Leaves from eight tree species namely:
Populus nigra, Ulmus pumila, Fraxinus excelsior, Robinia pseudoacacia, Acer hyracanum, Salix alba, Thuja
orientalis, and Cupressus sempervirens var arizonica, were sampled and analyzed by ICP-OES (Spectro
Genesis) for their heavy metal contents (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb). Results showed that heavy
metals in stations close to the lead and zinc smelting industrial complexes are much higher than average
showing a high correlation with their respective metal concentrations in soils. This clearly indicates that heavy
metal contents in tree leaves in the studied area are solely related to industrial activities notably National
Iranian Lead and Zinc (NILZ) as well as Zinc Specialized Industrial Complex (ZSIC) companies. Based on the
results, the studied native plants accumulate different metals selectively and Populus nigra was found to be
the best accumulator plant for Mn, Zn and Cd, Thuja orientalis, as the best phytoextractor for Fe, and
Cupressus sempervirens var arizonica is the best species among the studied native plants for accumulation of
Pb.

Keywords

International Journal of Environmental Research
Volume 9, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
January 2015
Pages 309-316

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