Metal uptake efficacy and phytoremediation potential of plants grown around soil dumpsites in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Plant’s accumulation and translocation potentials were investigated for phytoremediation purposes, recovery of metals, potential for edibles/vegetables to cause harm to humans. Plant and soil were collected, prepared, digested in mixturesof H2O2-HNO3 and Li2B4O7-LiBO2 for plants and soils respectively. The concentrations of Co, Cd, Cr, and As, accumulation and translocation were determined. Data were evaluated using bioconcentration (BCF), translocation factor (TF), bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC), metal uptake efficiency (ME%), multivariate analyses to establish hyperaccumulators, phytoextractors, phytostabilizers, source of metals and theirtoxicity. Analysis  of variance (ANOVA) showed data were significant at p <0.05. Correlation,factor and cluster analyses were employed to understand the accumulation and translocation of metals in soils and plants tissues.From this study, Colocasia asculenta, Corchorus aestuans and Laportea aestuans were hyperaccumulators of Co. Arsenic had only phytostabilizers. COA and LA were phytostabilizers and Sida acuta was phytoextractorof Cd respectively. Chromium, Co and Cd  could be phytomined from some of the plants. Vegetables/edibles values in shoots and leaves were above permissible levels for Cr, Co and Cd. Only Sida acuta was not edible.Metal uptake efficacy (%) order were Co (28.99 to 89.08) > Cd (21.74 to 50.96) >Cr (22.90 to 49.06) > and As (9.65 to 39.19).