Journal of Environmental Biology

Uptake and accumulation of potentially toxic  metals (Zn, Cu and Pb)

in soils and plants of Durgapur industrial belt

 

Author Details

 

Ganesh  Chandra Kisku (Corresponding author)

Environmental Monitoring Section, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, M.G. Marg,

Lucknow - 226 001, India

e-mail: kiskugc1@rediffmail.com

Poonam Pandey

Environmental Monitoring Section, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, M.G. Marg, Lucknow –

226 001, India

Mahendra Pratap Singh Negi        

Biometry and Statistics Division, Central Drug Research Institute, M.G. Marg, Lucknow - 226 001,

India

Virendra Misra

Ecotoxicology Division, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, M.G. Marg, Lucknow - 226 001, India

 

Publication Data

Paper received:

12 January 2010

 

Revised received:

24 April 2010

 

Accepted:

12 May 2010

 

Abstract

Uptake and accumulation of metals in crops  may cause possible health risks through food chain. A field survey was conducted to investigate the accumulation of potentially toxic metals contamination in soil and plants irrigated with complexed industrial effluents. Concentration of Zn, Cu and Pb was 205-255, 101-130, 118-177 mg g^-1 in rhizosphere soils and 116-223, 57-102 and 63-95 mg g^-1 d. wt. in root and 95-186, 44-75 and 27-58 mg g^{-1  d}. wt. in shoot, respectively. The trend in Cu and Pb was in the order: soil> root> shoot>seed while in Zn it was soil>root>seed>shoot. Roots accumulated a larger fraction of soil Cu (70%)> Zn (67%)> Pb (54%). Bioaccumulation coefficient of soil to root ranged from 51-98 for Zn, 54-85 for Cu and 43-63 for Pb. Analysis of variance showed marginal change in bioaccumulation coefficient, noticed between plants (p>0.05) while it varied significantly (p<0.01) between tissues and metals. It increased from root to seed/fruit (root > shoot > seed/fruit) while decreased between metals from Zn to Pb (Zn> Cu>Pb). Out of the three, two Cu and Pb accumulated to phyotoxic levels while Zn was within threshold limit of phytotoxicity.

 

Key words

Metal toxicity, Bioaccumulation coefficient, Industrial effluent, Durgapur industrial belt

 

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