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Alteration of Root Growth by Lettuce, Wheat, and Soybean in Response to Wear Debris from Automotive Brake Pads

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Abstract

Brakes from motor vehicles release brake pad wear debris (BPWD) with increased concentrations of heavy metals. Germination and root-elongation assays with lettuce, wheat, and soybean were used to provide an initial evaluation of the phytotoxicity of either a water extract of BPWD or BPWD particulates. In terms of germination, the only effect observed was that lettuce germination decreased significantly in the BPWD particulate treatment. Lettuce and wheat showed decreased root length and root-elongation rate in the presence of the BPWD particulates, whereas lettuce produced a significantly greater number of lateral roots in response to BPWD extract. There was no significant effect of either BPWD treatment on soybean root elongation or lateral roots. Treatment with BPWD extracts or particulates caused significant alterations in the bending pattern of the plant roots. These initial results suggest that BPWD may have effects on the early growth and development of plants.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Joe Matthews for supplying the soybean seed used. Southern Illinois University contributed to this research by providing D.J.G. with an undergraduate research assistantship to support M.D.D.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Biology and Center for Ecology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA

    Misty D. Dodd, Stephen D. Ebbs & David J. Gibson

  2. Center for Advanced Friction Studies, College of Engineering, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA

    Peter Filip

Authors
  1. Misty D. Dodd
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  2. Stephen D. Ebbs
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  3. David J. Gibson
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  4. Peter Filip
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Correspondence to Stephen D. Ebbs.

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Dodd, M.D., Ebbs, S.D., Gibson, D.J. et al. Alteration of Root Growth by Lettuce, Wheat, and Soybean in Response to Wear Debris from Automotive Brake Pads. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 67, 557–564 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-014-0053-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-014-0053-3

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