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Using plants to manage uncontrolled dumpsites: metal phytoremediation by endemic species from subtropical sites

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Abstract

The present research studied the potential of using plant species adapted to areas affected by Municipal Solid Waste disposal to phytoextract or phytostabilize heavy metals. The study area was an old unlined landfill that is regarded as contaminated by heavy metals, organic matter, and salts. Firstly, soil contamination around the waste deposit was assessed, secondly, the ability of local plants to extract metals from the soil was evaluated and thirdly, a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted using Vetiveria zizanioides (vetiver) planted in different soil samples collected from the study area. Heavy metal concentrations were below the Brazilian Screening Level in all soil samples but were generally higher at sites directly affected by the waste disposal, especially for Ba, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn. Psidium guajava (guava tree) and Pennisetum purpureum (elephant grass) growing naturally over the landfill surface presented potential applications for phytoextracting Ba, Pb, and Zn. Regarding the pot experiment with vetiver, it was observed that the plants could adapt to all the different treatments, showing their environmental adaptability. Metals were found to accumulate mainly in root tissues, indicating the potential for phytostabilization. Relevant bioaccumulation and translocation factors were found, respectively, for Ba, Cu, and Zn, and Ba, Cr, and Zn. The study concluded that guava tree, elephant grass, and vetiver can contribute to mitigating impacts of waste disposal sites and are able to thrive in such environments under a subtropical climate, phytoextract and/or phytostabilize Ba, Cu, Pb, and Zn, and thus, avoid leaching to the surroundings.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financed by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Finance Code 001), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, grant number 168734/2018-4) and São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, grant numbers 2015/ 03806-1 and 2018/24615-8).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technological University of Uruguay (UTEC), ITR CS, Francisco Maciel S/N Esquina Luis Morquio, 97000, Durazno, Uruguay

    A. K. M. Morita

  2. São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo (EESC-USP), São Carlos, Brazil

    A. K. M. Morita, L. M. Niviadonski & E. Wendland

  3. Prefeitura Municipal de Porto Belo, Porto Belo, Brazil

    M. B. Leite

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  1. A. K. M. Morita
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Correspondence to A. K. M. Morita.

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Morita, A.K.M., Niviadonski, L.M., Leite, M.B. et al. Using plants to manage uncontrolled dumpsites: metal phytoremediation by endemic species from subtropical sites. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 21, 4307–4318 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-05306-9

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