Heavy metal contamination along highway soils and potential local plants for phytoremediation

摘要

This study includes the basic characterisation of soils, the extent and type of heavy metal contamination along a highway, identification of vigorously growing native plants from the polluted site and assessment of their metal accumulation capacities. Concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu and Mn) were investigated in the soil and in native plants grown at the study site. Except for Fe, the concentration of metals decreased with increasing distance from the highway. Of the native plants collected from the polluted site, Festuca rubra and Holcus lanatus, were found to be promising for phytostabilisation. A moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus), abundant at the study site, was found to accumulate large quantities of Pb compared to other metals.