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Evaluation of heavy metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons accumulation in plants from typical industrial sites: potential candidate in phytoremediation for co-contamination

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Abstract

The heavy metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contents were evaluated in surface soil and plant samples of 18 wild species collected from 3 typical industrial sites in South Central China. The accumulative characteristics of the plant species for both heavy metal and PAHs were discussed. The simultaneous accumulation of heavy metal and PAHs in plant and soil was observed at all the investigated sites, although disparities in spatial distributions among sites occurred. Both plant and soil samples were characterized by high accumulation for heavy metal at smelting site, moderate enrichment at coke power and coal mining sites, whereas high level of PAHs (16 priority pollutants according to US Environmental Protection Agency) at coke power site, followed sequentially by coal mining and smelting sites. Based on the differences of heavy metal and PAH accumulation behaviors of the studied plant species, heavy metal and PAH accumulation strategies were suggested: Pteris vittata L. and Pteris cretica L. for As and PAHs, Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud for Pb, As, and PAHs, and Miscanthus floridulu (Labnll.) Warb for Cu and PAHs. These native plant species could be proposed as promising materials for heavy metal and PAHs combined pollution remediation.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 41271339).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 11A, Datun Road Anwai, Beijing, 100101, People’s Republic of China

    Lu Sun, Xiaoyong Liao, Xiulan Yan, Ganghui Zhu & Dong Ma

  2. China Geological Environmental Monitoring Institute, Beijing, 100081, People’s Republic of China

    Lu Sun

  3. Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning, Beijing, 100012, People’s Republic of China

    Ganghui Zhu

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  1. Lu Sun
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  2. Xiaoyong Liao
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  3. Xiulan Yan
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  4. Ganghui Zhu
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  5. Dong Ma
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Correspondence to Xiaoyong Liao.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Sun, L., Liao, X., Yan, X. et al. Evaluation of heavy metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons accumulation in plants from typical industrial sites: potential candidate in phytoremediation for co-contamination. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 12494–12504 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3171-6

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