CAPABILITIES OF HALOPHYTES AND GLYCOPHYTES FOR PHYTOEXTRACTION OF METALS COLLECTED FROM POLLUTED AND UNPOLLUTED AREAS OF KPK, PAKISTAN

摘要

The anthropogenic activities like smelting, mining, municipal mess sludge, combustion of carbon-containing compounds and agricultural practices have led to the accumulation of toxic heavy metals in water and soil. Most of the heavy metals are carcinogenic and through the food chain, they reach to human bodies. In this study, nine halophytes and three glycophytes were investigated for the heavy and light metals uptake from polluted and unpolluted soils. Six halophytes and three glycophytes were selected from polluted areas while three halophytes were selected from the unpolluted areas. The bioaccumulation of both heavy and light metals in polluted and unpolluted area plants was concentration-dependent. The uptake of zinc was considerably high as compared to other metals followed by copper. The uptake pattern of light metals was not uniform. In some cases, magnesium was high while in other calcium and potassium. The bioconcentration and translocation factors were also calculated.