Study of the Copper, Chromium, Manganese and Zinc Contents in the Species <i>Azorella spinosa</i> (Apiaceae), Collected in the Maule Region, Chile

Abstract

The increase in prevalence of environmental pollution, especially soil contamination with toxic metals has led to their uptake in the human food chains through plant parts. Accumulation and magnification of heavy metals in human tissues through comsuption of herbal medicine can cause hazardous impacts on health. Therefore, chemical profiling of four heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Mn and Zn) was undertaken in samples of Azorella spinosa from coast and mountain of Maule Region in Chile. The Cu, Cr, Mn and Zn concentrations were determined in plants of the species Azorella spinosa and their soils of origin. For each plant, the metal contents in the stalk, leaves and soil were determined by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The methodology was validated using certified reference material: BIMEP-432 for the plant samples and MESS-1 for the soil samples. The concentration ranges found in the plant tissue were: Cu:

Human Activity in Antarctica: Effects on Metallic Trace Elements (MTEs) in Plants and Soils

“…However, it is impossible to compare their results with ours because we analyzed the metals in C. quitensis in conjunction with the Antarctic hair grass Deschampsia antarctica. Despite this, the mean concentrations we recorded in leaves and roots for the different metals are similar to those published by other authors in various plants (Table 2) [14,46,47]. Information about the vascular plants present in Antarctica is limited.…”

“…The filtrates were brought to a final volume of 50 mL with bi-distilled water. Blank solutions were also included [46,65,66].…”

“…Following the methodologies used by Tapia [46], the soil samples were dried at 105 • C, and a representative sample (0.5 g) was mixed with 50 mL of HF-HNO 3 (2:1) mixture and solubilized at 120 • C until almost dry with constant stirring. The resulting solution was filtered on 0.45 µm filters, washed with bi-distilled water, and made up to 50 mL in a pre-treated volumetric flask.…”