Phytoextraction of Metal Contaminants by Typha Angustifolia: Interaction of Lead and Cadmium in Soil-Water Microcosms

Abstract

A greenhouse study was conducted on phytoextraction and accumulation of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) from contaminated soil – water microcosms by the narrow-leaved cattail, Typha angustifolia. The plants were grown in sandy loam soil containing 1,666 and 38.5 mg/L of Pb(NO3)2 and Cd(NO3)2 respectively. The trends of lead and cadmium by T. angustifolia for all soil – water microcosms suggested interaction effects as decreased soil lead concentrations and increased water cadmium concentrations over time. T. angustifolia expressed trends as increased biomass in all contaminated shoots and roots examined. Cadmium uptake in shoot and root biomass slightly decreased when lead was initially added to the soil but cadmium uptake in root biomass increased after 30 days. Data suggested an interaction between lead and cadmium and possible that lead uptake was inhibited when cadmium was present.