The Phytoremediation of Chromium from Soil Using Cirsium Vulgare and the Health Effects

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The spreadingof toxic substances as a result of human activities has become a serious problem for ground, atmosphere, and water ecosystems. Many of these toxic substances are pesticides, heavy metals such as chromium, and they cause serious health problems due to contamination ofsoil and food chain. In this study, the phytoremediation capacity of the medicinal plant Cirsium vulgarein the soil which was contaminated by Cr heavy metal, and the toxic effects of bioaccumulation using phytoremediation method were investigated. For this purpose, 30 mgkg-1 Cr heavy metal contaminant was applied to each pot as Chromium (IV)-oxide. To increase the absorption of this contaminant by the Cirsium vulgare, 0, 3, 6, 8, and 10 mmol/kg doses of EDTA were applied to the pots, respectively. According to the results, with the increasing doses of EDTA, Cr content of the above-ground parts of the plant reached to the highest value in the 6 mmol/kg EDTA chelate dosein 8.23mg/kgchromium for plant; after that, Cr accumulation decreased as a result of the toxic effect occurred inside the plant. These increases were determined as statistically significant(P<0,01). The results have demonstrated that the medicinal Cirsium vulgareplant is effective accumulator for the phytoremediation of the chromium-contaminated soils.