Open AccessTranslocation of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd in Some Vegetables Grown in Polluted Area of Baia Mare, Romania
Author(s) -
Melinda Maria Ivasuc,
M. Rusu
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
bulletin of university of agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine cluj-napoca. agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1843-5386
pISSN - 1843-5246
DOI - 10.15835/buasvmcn-agr:6571
Subject(s) - spinach , soil water , environmental chemistry , metal , chemistry , pollution , enrichment factor , cadmium , soil test , zinc , heavy metals , horticulture , zoology , environmental science , biology , ecology , soil science , biochemistry , organic chemistry
In this work, behaviors of lettuce and spinach, growing in a metal-polluted garden soils located near a nonferrous metallurgical center, were investigated through Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd soils and plant metal concentrations, their capacity to uptake these metals through concentration factor (CF) and translocated these metals from inedible to edible part of vegetables through translocation factor (TF). The present study highlights that both adults and children consuming vegetables grown in these garden soils ingest significant amount of these metals. The soil and plant samples had been collected from 2 places located at small distances from existing pollution sources Ferneziu and Tăuţii de Sus. For the comparative analysis of the data, also a reference zone had been selected from Sighetu-Marmaţiei, area not under the direct impact of mentioned pollution sources. Heavy metal (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd) content from soil and plant samples were analysed on a Perkin Elmer Flame AAS. The values for Cu in total forms in soil varied between 31.278 mg•kg-1 (Sighet) and 216.042 mg•kg-1 (Ferneziu). The concentrations of Pb in total forms ranged from 38.671 mg•kg-1 (Sighet) at 2036.362 mg•kg-1 (Ferneziu). The concentration of Zn varied between 137.681 mg•kg-1 (Sighet) and 1992.322 mg•kg-1 (Ferneziu). The minimum value obtained for Cd was 0.789 mg•kg-1 (Sighet) and the maximum value was 7.854 mg•kg-1 (Ferneziu). The order of average CF values are similar in lettuce root and spinach leaves being followed: Cd >Cu> Zn >Pb. The order of average CF values at spinach from soil to root was: Cd> Pb> Cu >Zn. The CF average values from soil to lettuce leaves was in the following order: Cd> Pb >Cu >Zn. In lettuce the TF (root to leaves) values in varied in the following order Zn> Cu> Cd >Pb in all studied areas. In spinach the order of variation for TF values was Cu>Cd>Zn>Pb. This study reveals an intense soil and plant pollution in the areas adjacent to sources of pollution (Tăuţii de Sus and Ferneziu) and indicate a translocation of these heavy metals in plants. Their consumption make possible an inevitably transfer of heavy metals in the body, which can have serious consequences on human health.