Antimony uptake by different plant species from nutrient solution, agar and soil

Abstract

Environmental context. Because of its many industrial and other uses, antimony (Sb) is increasingly emitted into the environment through human activities. We studied the uptake of Sb by crop plants from three different substrates: hydroponic nutrient solutions, agar medium, and potting soil. The uptake of Sb increased linearly with Sb in solution or soluble Sb in soil over a wide range of concentrations until it was limited by toxicity. Antimony was much less toxic than its sister element arsenic compared on a molar basis. The results suggest that Sb may be accumulated by some crop plants on heavily contaminated soils at concentrations that may pose a health risk to humans and animals. Abstract. We investigated the uptake of antimonate from nutrient solutions, agar and soil by various cultivated plants, including Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), clover (Trifolium pratense L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.). Antimony uptake did not differ between the three growth media. In all tested plants, the shoot Sb concentration was proportional to Sb in solution or soluble Sb in soil, until toxicity eventually limited growth. At a given Sb concentration in the growth medium, Sb accumulation differed between plant species by up to an order of magnitude. Clover grown in agar containing 160 mg L–1 Sb in solution accumulated 2151 mg kg–1 Sb (dry weight) in the shoots. Maize had the lowest accumulation. In maize and sunflower, most Sb accumulated in the leaves. The results indicate that antimony may accumulate in the edible parts of crop plants grown on heavily contaminated soils at concentrations that may pose a health risk to humans and animals.

Distribution, speciation and availability of antimony (Sb) in soils and terrestrial plants from an active Sb mining area

“…An exceptionally high value was found in Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich (4029 mg kg À1 ). This value is in the range of earlier reported EC 50 values (maximum effective concentration) of Sb, indicating toxicity to terrestrial plants (Tschan et al, 2009a). No literature data on the Sb uptake in B. nivea was found, but this plant species is known to have a high tolerance with respect to As (Huang et al, 2008).…”

Antimony uptake and toxicity in sunflower and maize growing in SbIII and SbV contaminated soil

“…Soluble soil Sb concentrations relating to soil solution were determined by extraction with potassium nitrate as described by Tschan et al (2009a): Subsamples of 5 g were mixed with 12.5-mL aliquots of a 0.1 mol L −1 potassium nitrate solution in polypropylene bottles. The bottles were tightly closed and longitudinally shaken for 2 h with a frequency of 120 min −1 and an amplitude of 55 mm (KS 250, Janke & Kunkel IKA Labortechnik GmbH, Staufen i.…”

“…Furthermore, the observation by Tschan et al (2008) that phosphate did not affect antimonate uptake by sunflower and maize in hydroponic experiments indicates that antimonate is not taken up by plants via phosphate transporters like arsenate (Asher and Reay 1979;Gulz et al 2005;Woolson et al 1973). Tschan et al (2009a) found that antimonate is accumulated by plants approximately in proportion to soil soluble Sb over a concentrations range of several orders of magnitude, suggesting that antimonate uptake is dominated by a non-selective pathway, possibly an apoplastic bypass of the endodermis barrier separating the outer parts of a plant root from the central root cylinder with the vascular bundles. This latter pathway would also be available for antimonite.…”

Simultaneous hyperaccumulation of arsenic and antimony in Cretan brake fern: Evidence of plant uptake and subcellular distributions

“…Our previous report has shown that an As-hyperaccumulating fern, Pteris cretica (Cretan brake fern), also exhibited a relatively high tolerance to antimonite under hydroponic culture conditions [16]. Some other Sb accumulating plants have also been reported, such as Trifolium pratense L. [17], Achillea ageratum, Plantago lanceolata and Silene vulgaris [18], however, the mechanisms of Sb accumulation in these plants are still left to be resolved.…”