Phytoremediation of lead in urban polluted soils in the north of Iran

Abstract

Evaluation of toxic metal concentration in soil and plants in environment are the most important subject according to the health of ecosystem. This study was carried out by investigating the density of lead in urban polluted soils with tree species such as buttonwood in Rasht City. To this aim, 120 samples of leaves and surface roots of trees from polluted sites and controlled sites were collected and then lead concentration in each sample was determined by atomic absorption instrument (Varian model 220). Results indicated that the lead concentration and translocation factor in buttonwood is 14.39 ppm and 3.49, respectively. This species is recently used for phytoremediation of lead in the same conditions. The highest lead concentration is in the aerial organs (shoots and leaves) of trees. Plant species can transfer lead to their aerial organs in order to have the least accumulation of this element in their underground organs.