Accumulation Characteristics, Tolerance Differences and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Sugarcane

Abstract

Seven varieties of sugarcane were grown on soil polluted with heavy metals, including Pb, Cd, and As. Sugarcane growth, the heavy metal contents in different sugarcane tissues, and the subcellular distributions of the heavy metals in the roots and leaves were analyzed. The purpose of this investigation was to study sugarcane growth tolerance, the accumulation of heavy metals and the mechanism of sugarcane tolerance to heavy metals at the subcellular level. Health risk assessments were performed according to the models recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). The patterns of heavy metal storage were demonstrated to differ among different tissues in all sugarcane varieties investigated. Most of the heavy metals that were absorbed accumulated in the roots of the sugarcane, and the heavy metals in the root cells were mostly located in the cell wall. The health risk index was used to analyze the juice and indicated that the consumption of sugarcane juice by adults and children posed no significant health risks. This study shows that sugarcane grown on heavy metal-contaminated farmland is safe for consumption. The results of this study revealed an important and positive implication regarding the cultivation of sugarcane on farmland that is polluted by heavy metals and the potential to simultaneously achieve sustainable economic output and potential environmental restoration.