Heavy metal accumulation by roadside vegetation and implications for pollution control

Abstract

Vehicular emissions cause heavy metal pollution and exert negative impacts on environment and roadside vegetation. Wild plants growing along roadsides are capable of absorbing considerable amounts of heavy metals; thus, could be helpful in reducing heavy metal pollution. Therefore, current study inferred heavy metal absorbance capacity of some wild plant species growing along roadside. Four different wild plant species, i.e., Acacia nilotica L., Calotropis procera L., Ricinus communis L., and Ziziphus mauritiana L. were selected for the study. Leaf samples of these species were collected from four different sites, i.e., Control, New Lahore, Nawababad and Fatehabad. Leaf samples were analyzed to determine Pb2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Mn2+ and Fe3+ accumulation. The A. nilotica, Z. mauritiana and C. procera accumulated significant amount of Pb at New Lahore site. Similarly, R. communis and A. nilotica accumulated higher amounts of Mn, Zn and Fe at Nawababad and New Lahore sites compared to the rest of the species. Nonetheless, Z. mauritiana accumulated higher amounts of Ni at all sites compared with the other species included in the study. Soil surface contributed towards the uptake of heavy metals in leaves; therefore, wild plant species should be grown near the roadsides to control heavy metals pollution. Results revealed that wild plants growing along roadsides accumulate significant amounts of heavy metals. Therefore, these species could be used to halt the vehicular pollution along roadsides and other polluted areas.

Urban greenery for air pollution control: a meta-analysis of current practice, progress, and challenges

“…In a study in the Kastmonu Province, Sevik et al ( 2020 ) proposed “edible landscaping”—strategic planting of certain fruit and vegetable trees, such as apple, plum, cherry, and mulberry, which can remove traffic-induced heavy metals (nickel, cobalt) from ambient air. Similar observations are widely reported from Pakistan (Altaf et al, 2020 ), Malaysia (Silaiman & Hamza, 2018 ), China (Qiu et al, 2009 ), and India (Rahul & Jain, 2016 ). In a case study involving traffic-induced heavy metal emissions (zinc, lead, chromium, and copper) in Bangalore City, India, Manjunath and Reddy ( 2019 ) observed that plants produced increased phenolic compounds (proline and malonaldehydes) to tolerate and mitigate oxidative stresses of air pollutants.…”

Kinetin mitigates Cd-induced damagesto growth, photosynthesis and PS II photochemistry of Trigonella seedlings by up-regulating ascorbate-glutathione cycle

“…Contamination of air, soil and water due to various kinds of pollutants which are byproduct of industrial activity has created a worldwide problem [1][2][3]. In recent years, heavy metals are the most important contaminants causing serious threat to the life of every living being.…”

Assessment of the Heavy Metal Contamination of Roadside Soils Alongside Buddha Nullah, Ludhiana, (Punjab) India

“…Based on the above, roadside soil, street dust, and plants can be exposed to significant levels of metals, owing to both vehicle emissions and carried harmful chemicals [12][13][14]. The burning of fossil fuels, vehicle wear (tires, body and brakes) and vehicular fluids all contribute to increased metal levels in the environment [15]. It has been observed that roadside soil is highly contaminated with various heavy metals, namely Ni, Cd, Zn, Cu and Pb [12,13,16].…”