Heavy metal pollution and physiological changes in the leaves of some shrub, palm and tree species in urban areas of Adana, Turkey

摘要

The effects of anthropogenic pollution on metal accumulation and some physiological parameters were investigated in plant leaves in the Adana, located in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Washingtonia filifera L., Eucalyptus camaldulensis L., Phoenix dactylifera L., Platanus orientalis L., Citrus aurantium L., Nerium oleander L. and Schinus molle L. plants were collected from four different locations having different pollution levels in Adana . Concentrations of metals (Al, B, Ba, Fe, Pb, Sr and Zn), pigment (chloropyhll and carotenoid), lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde), and peroxidase (POD) enzyme activity were determined in the leaf tissues of these plants. Nerium oleander was determined to be a suitable biomonitor for heavy metal accumulation from anthropogenic and traffic activities in Adana. It was also determined that S. molle accumulated more Cu, Pb and Zn than all the other plant species and that metal accumulation did not cause a significant increase in pigment content of this plant. Our results indicate that POD enzyme activities in P. orientalis (Sr and Zn), C. aurantium (Ba) and N. oleander (Cu and Pb) can be used as suitable indicators for heavy metal stress. Additionally, we propose that S. molle can be used as a biomonitor for Pb, Cu and Zn, while N.oleander can be used as a biomonitor for Fe, Al, and Ba.