The impact of hedgerow to the lead content in plants cultivated adjacent to motorway
Journal Title: Journal of Research in Biology - Year 2012, Vol 2, Issue 8
Abstract
Lead pollution is a worldwide environmental challenge. The present study was intended to evaluate the lead content of the pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) plants collected from a test field adjacent to motorway. The test field was separated from the heavily trafficked (>10,000 vehicles/d) motorway by the blue spruce hedgerow which was located transversely in a distance of 12 m from roadside. The pot marigold inflorescences (commonly used as pharmaceutical herbs) and leaves were collected at distances of 20 to 80 m from the roadside; the lead content was estimated using the dithizone lead determination technique. The 2.5 m high dense spruce hedgerow reduced the lead contamination of pot marigold leaves for 40 m from the hedgerow; the average lead content of leaves was 12.5 μg pro 100 cm2. Contrary, at the 60 m distance to the hedgerow, a peak in lead content (33 μg/100 cm2) was found. The absolute lead contents for the inflorescences were much lower (2-8 μg/100 cm2) and no unidirectional impact of the hedgerow on the lead content of inflorescences was found. In conclusion, the 2.5 m high dense spruce hedgerow was found to reduce the lead contamination of pot marigold leaves for a distance up to 40 m from the hedgerow. The lead content of pot marigold inflorescences was variable and it depends on additional environmental factors. Consequently, to reduce the health risks it is recommended to shield the pot marigold cultivation field from the traffic-originated lead pollution with an appropriate hedgerow.
Authors and Affiliations
Andres Meos, Vallo Matto, Ain Raal
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP566302
- DOI -
- Views 115
- Downloads 0
Production of protease by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from abattoir environment
The study investigated the optimum conditions of temperature, pH, inoculum size and time of incubation on bacterial protease production. Protease producing bacterial species were isolated from abattoir soil and identifie...
Biochemical changes in tissues of albino rats following subchronic exposure to crude oil
Biochemical changes in the tissues of thirty-six albino rats (Rattus rattus) following subchronic exposure to 1.25% , 2.50% and 5% of crude oil polluted feed was investigated. There were age and sex matched with another...
A Study On Uropathogens In Diabetic Patients from a tertiary care Hospital in Kanchipuram
Diabetes has long been one of the predisposing factors of UTI. There were several studies about the role of DM in etiology and resistance pattern of uropathogens with UTI. Hence this study was aimed to know the prevalenc...
Ameliorative effect by calcium on NaCl salinity stress related to reactive oxygen species metabolism in Amaranthus tricolor L
Soil salinity affects plant growth and development by way of osmotic imbalance which induces oxidative damage in plant tissues. Oxidative stress is caused by increased production of Active Oxygen Species (AOS), such as O...
Seasonal Influences on the Distribution of Bacterial Pathogens and Waterborne Diseases Transmission Potentials of Imo River, Nigeria
The occurrence and population of pathogenic bacteria at certain points of Imo River, were determined. Water samples were collected for two seasons at major points of human activities along the river and subjected to stan...