ACCUMULATION OF HEAVY METALS IN LEAVES OF ULMUS PUMILA L. NEAR RAILWAY TRACKS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58407/bht.3.25.1Keywords:
accumulation, heavy metals, invasive species, Ulmus pumila L., phytoindicatorAbstract
Purpose of the work. The study is aimed at determining the content of heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Pb) in the leaves of Ulmus pumila L. and in the soil sampled directly at the sites of this species’ growth, at different distances from railway tracks on the southeastern outskirts of Chernihiv. The main focus was placed on the comparative analysis of concentrations between the studied plots and the control in order to assess the potential of U. pumila as a bioindicator of technogenic pollution in areas exposed to intensive anthropogenic pressure.
Methodology. Leaves of U. pumila were collected at distances of 2, 10, and 70 m from railway tracks and at a control site. Soil samples were taken directly from the places of growth of the studied species. The collected samples were cleaned from dust, dried, ashed, and analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, which ensured the acquisition of reliable and accurate quantitative data. To increase the reliability of the results, measurements were performed in tenfold replication, compared with control values, and translocation coefficients were calculated to evaluate the ability of the plant to transfer metals from the soil to the aboveground organs, namely the leaves.
Scientific novelty. A comprehensive assessment of the content of Cu, Cd and Pb in the leaves of U. pumila and the soil of the southeastern outskirts of Chernihiv, near the railway tracks, was carried out, with the determination of the translocation coefficients of these elements. The ability of U. pumila to effectively accumulate Pb from the soil and atmosphere was established, which expands the understanding of its bioindicative properties and confirms the feasibility of using this species as an indicator of technogenic pollution.
Conclusions. The concentrations of Cu, Cd and Pb in the leaves of U. pumila exceed the control values, the highest values are recorded at distances of 2–10 m from the railway tracks. The most mobile was Pb, for which the value of the translocation coefficient exceeds 1, which indicates its active entry into the leaves. The results obtained confirm the possibility of using U. pumila as a phytoindicator for monitoring the level of heavy metal pollution in the area affected by railway transport.
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