Trace Metal(oid) Accumulation in Edible Crops and Poplar Cuttings Grown on Dredged Sediment Enriched Soil

Abstract

The development of a biomonitor in the context of multiple‐element contamination in urban environments was tested by comparing element transfer in edible crops and poplar (Populus trichocarpa Torr. × Populus maximowiczii A. Henry cutlivar ‘Skado’). A multielemental analysis was performed with various common edible crops (cucumber [Cucumis sativus L.], pepper [Capsicum annuum L.], cabbage [Brassica oleracea L.], and lettuce [Lactuca sativa L.]) and the Skado poplar cultivar grown on soils that received sediments dredged from water canals in the 1960s. Sediments were distributed unevenly on the soil, allowing us to sample two types of areas that were either weakly (Area 1) or highly (Area 2) contaminated, mainly by Cd, Pb, and Zn. We registered an accumulation of Cd and Zn in the edible parts of crops, with higher values recorded for leafy vegetables than for fruit vegetables. We did not detect any accumulation of Pb in the plant species studied. We calculated the fresh mass that must be consumed daily to reach tolerable daily intake (TDI) recommendations for each element and found evidence that Cd could be ingested in sufficient amounts to reach the TDI in this context. Poplar and pepper leaves accumulated more Cd and Zn than the edible parts of the study crops grown on both substrates, which suggests that poplar and pepper may be suitable species for biomonitoring element transfer to vegetation in this context. Core Ideas We estimated element transfer from a dredged sediment enriched soil to plants. The suitability of poplar and edible crops as biomonitors was tested. The ‘Skado’ poplar cultivar was confirmed to be a suitable biomonitor candidate The pepper plant is a promising novel candidate in the context of urban gardening.

Improving Silver Birch (Betula pendula) Growth and Mn Accumulation in Residual Red Gypsum Using Organic Amendments

“…Industrial landfills may contain mine slags and tailings that generally contain potentially toxic elements (PTEs) that affect organisms differently (Kurt-Karakus, 2012). The urbanization near landfill areas may increase population exposure to PTEs by dust inhalation, ingestion of home-grown vegetables (Assad et al, 2019), and dermal contact with contaminated substrates (Jiang et al, 2019). Additionally, tree development in mining soils with high rhizosphere pH, i.e., from the bauxite extraction or coal mining industries, may be affected by a nutrient deficiency, rather than by soil metal(loid)s in excess (Zhang and Zwiazek, 2016).…”

The Potential of Poplars (Populus L.) for the Sustainable Environment of Cities

“…in relation to spatial and site conditions) -could effectively improve air quality by capturing PMs, thereby reducing air pollution levels [96]. Poplars could also be effective in carbon sequestration by accumulating trace elements from polluted urban soils, serving as bioindicators for urban environmental pollution assessment [97]. Furthermore, poplar trees can modify soil microbial communities, enhance soil stability, and provide valuable habitats for ground beetles and entomofauna, enriching urban biodiversity [98].…”

“…Considering diverse research findings to ensure optimal growth and sustainability of poplars in urban settings while minimizing risks, effective maintenance practices such as pruning, soil amendment, and irrigation are crucial [105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112]. The challenges such as insect pests and heavy metal accumulation in poplar require careful management and selection of clones, especially when monoculture plantations are planned to be introduced [42,43,113,114,115].…”