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Potential of Plantago major L. for Phytoremediation of Lead-Contaminated Soil and Water

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Abstract

This study investigated the phytoremediation potential of Plantago major L. to remediate lead (Pb) contaminated water and soil. Results of this investigation indicated that P. major L. roots exhibit a significant increase in Pb uptake relative to P. major leaves from polluted water and soil. In polluted water (40 mg/L Pb), P. major showed unusually high concentrations of Pb in their roots (9284.66 mg/kg) within 25 days as the rhizofiltration suggesting that an exclusion strategy for metal tolerance exist widely in him. In soil, P. major has the potential for phytostabilization. In Pb-contaminated soil at 20 mg/kg, P. major roots efficiently accumulated Pb (50.53 mg/kg and 77.12 mg/kg) after 10 and 20 days, respectively. Pb was taken up by P. major leaves to a lesser extent than the roots (13.87 mg/kg and 30.4 mg/kg) after 10 and 20 days, respectively. The results suggest that P. major may be considered a bioaccumulator species for Pb and can be used as a bioindicator of pollution with lead.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Dr. Abd El-reheem M. (director of the Central Laboratory of the soil, food and feed) for their determination of Pb by atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

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  1. Plant Production Department, Faculty of Technology and Development, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Ahmed Ali Romeh

  2. Soils and Water Department, Faculty of Technology and Development, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Magdi Anwar Khamis & Shawky Mohammed Metwally

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  1. Ahmed Ali Romeh
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Correspondence to Ahmed Ali Romeh.

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Romeh, A.A., Khamis, M.A. & Metwally, S.M. Potential of Plantago major L. for Phytoremediation of Lead-Contaminated Soil and Water. Water Air Soil Pollut 227, 9 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-015-2687-9

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