Pollution risk from Pb towards vegetation growing in and around shooting ranges – a review

Abstract

Commissioned and de-commissioned shooting ranges continue to pose an environmental and human health risk due to the accumulation of toxic Pb emanating from spent munitions. The phytotoxic effects of Pb accumulation in plants include inhibition of root growth and lowering of plant metabolism. The uptake of Pb by plants is directly affected by factors such as plant species and physicochemical properties of the soil. However, scientists and researchers have leveraged on the ability of some plant species to accumulate and tolerate Pb toxicity and applied them in the control and management of Pb pollution of shooting range soils. This technique is called phytoremediation. The objectives of this review are: (i) to assess the prevalence of toxic Pb metal in plant species growing in and nearby shooting ranges, (ii) to establish the soil-plant mechanistic pathway for Pb (iii) discuss the effectiveness of phytoremediation technology towards shooting range soil amendment.

The Impact of Pb from Ammunition on the Vegetation of a Bird Shooting Range

“…However, the study of the impact of Pb and other heavy metal contamination on vegetation from intensive hunting ranges are the cornerstones for the control and management of Pb pollution in shooting areas [18,82,83]. This work found that Pb plant concentrations were significantly higher in red-legged partridge shooting areas than in control sites.…”

European mammal exposure to lead from ammunition and fishing weight sources

“… Payne et al. (2013) Dinake et al. (2021) 1, 2 and 3 White-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) Pb fragments in abomasum of deer linked to sub-clinical elevated kidney Pb concentration.…”

Pb uptake, accumulation, and translocation in plants: Plant physiological, biochemical, and molecular response: A review

“…The physiochemical characteristics of soil, like soil type, soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic matter, and soil texture, affect the Pb uptake by the plant roots [ 35 ]. Among these characteristics, soil pH has a key role in plant uptake by producing protons in roots and resulting in an acidic rhizosphere that favors the dissolution of Pb.…”

“…Among these characteristics, soil pH has a key role in plant uptake by producing protons in roots and resulting in an acidic rhizosphere that favors the dissolution of Pb. Thus, it has been found that with the decrease in soil pH, Pb absorption also increases and becomes easily accessible to plants [ 35 ]. Additionally, it has been revealed that Pb translocated to shoots when Pb ions cannot precipitate and retain in the cell walls of plants due to the low pH [ 36 ].…”

“…Wan, Zhang [ 38 ] reported that the soil organic matter formed organo-Pb complexes in the Pb-contaminated soils, which resulted in bioavailability and mobility of Pb for plant uptake. As far as soil texture is concerned, it has an important role in Pb availability to the plants as fine sandy soils facilitates more Pb uptake as compared to clayey soils which have strong bindings with Pb, and thus result in immobilization of Pb and unavailability to the plants [ 35 ]. Soils contaminated with Pb are a serious risk to public food safety and sustainable agriculture [ 39 , 40 ].…”