Impact of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Benz[a]pyrene on Germination of Common Barley Seeds (Hordéum Vulgáre L.)

Abstract

The paper considers the influence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, biphenyls and benz[a] pyrene on the germination of barley seeds, as well as the influence of pollutants on seed storage. As a result of the experiments, the negative effect of polychlorinated biphenyls on seed germination at a concentration of 100 μg/ kg has been found, which can be explained by the high accumulation of low-chlorinated pollutants by seeds. The negative effect of benz[a]pyrene on seed germination at concentrations of 20 and 100 μg/kg has been registered.