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Assessing Soil Metal Levels in an Industrial Environment of Northwestern China and the Phytoremediation Potential of Its Native Plants

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  • Yuan Liu

    (Key Laboratory of Eco-Environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

  • Yujing Yang

    (Key Laboratory of Eco-Environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
    Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China)

  • Changxiao Li

    (Key Laboratory of Eco-Environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
    State Key Laboratory of the Seedling Bioengineering, Ningxia Forestry Institute, Yinchuan 750004, China)

  • Xilu Ni

    (Key Laboratory of Eco-Environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
    State Key Laboratory of the Seedling Bioengineering, Ningxia Forestry Institute, Yinchuan 750004, China)

  • Wenchao Ma

    (Key Laboratory of Eco-Environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

  • Hong Wei

    (Key Laboratory of Eco-Environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Ecology and Resources Research in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

Abstract

Various industrial activities contribute heavy metals to terrestrial ecosystems. In order to evaluate the soil quality of industrial areas and to identify the potential phytoremediator from the native plant species, we collected 45 surface soil samples and 21 plant species in a typical industrial area of northwestern China. The results showed that the average values of the Cd, Cr, As, Pb, Cu, and Zn in the soils were 36.91, 1.67, 7.20, 1.38, 1.27, and 6.66 times, respectively, compared with the corresponding background values. The average single factor pollution index for heavy metals decreased in the order of Cd > As > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb. The study area was seriously polluted by Cd and As, slightly polluted by Zn, and had relatively little contamination by Cr, Pb, and Cu. In terms of the average Nemerow synthetic pollution index in every sampling site, 97.78% of the samples were seriously polluted and 2.22% of the samples were moderately polluted, which indicated that almost all of the samples in the industrial area were seriously polluted. The results of the biomass, heavy metal concentrations, bioconcentration factors (BCF), and translocation factors (TF) for the native plants showed that Achnatherum splendens for metal Cr presented a phytostabilization potential, Artemisia scoparia and Echinochloa crusgalli for metal Cu and Halogeton arachnoideus for metal Zn presented a phytoextraction potential, and all of the studied plants were limited as phytoremediators for Cd or Pb contaminated soil.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuan Liu & Yujing Yang & Changxiao Li & Xilu Ni & Wenchao Ma & Hong Wei, 2018. "Assessing Soil Metal Levels in an Industrial Environment of Northwestern China and the Phytoremediation Potential of Its Native Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:8:p:2686-:d:161047
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jingwen Tang & Liyuan Chai & Huan Li & Zhihui Yang & Weichun Yang, 2018. "A 10-Year Statistical Analysis of Heavy Metals in River and Sediment in Hengyang Segment, Xiangjiang River Basin, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-28, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xingqing Zhao & Min Wang & Hui Wang & Ding Tang & Jian Huang & Yu Sun, 2019. "Study on the Remediation of Cd Pollution by the Biomineralization of Urease-Producing Bacteria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Stephanie Coakley & Gary Cahill & Anne-Marie Enright & Brian O’Rourke & Carloalberto Petti, 2019. "Cadmium Hyperaccumulation and Translocation in Impatiens Glandulifera : From Foe to Friend?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Songlin Zhang & Yuan Liu & Yujing Yang & Xilu Ni & Muhammad Arif & Wokadala Charles & Changxiao Li, 2020. "Trace Elements in Soils of a Typical Industrial District in Ningxia, Northwest China: Pollution, Source, and Risk Evaluation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-13, March.
    4. Guijie Tong & Shaohua Wu & Yujie Yuan & Fufu Li & Lian Chen & Daohao Yan, 2018. "Modeling of Trace Metal Migration and Accumulation Processes in a Soil-Wheat System in Lihe Watershed, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, November.
    5. Fuyao Chen & Yongjun Yang & Jiaxin Mi & Run Liu & Huping Hou & Shaoliang Zhang, 2019. "Effects of Vegetation Pattern and Spontaneous Succession on Remediation of Potential Toxic Metal-Polluted Soil in Mine Dumps," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-13, January.

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