Assessment of heavy metal accumulation in some edible plants and media samples in the vicinity of seydisehir aluminum plant, Konya

In this study, the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in some selected nature and cultivated plants and media samples were determined by inductively-coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) in Seydisehir industrial area. It was found that (p<0.05) mean Fe concentration was higher in the soils, followed by Mn, Ni, Zn, Cr, Cu, Pb and Cd, on dry weight basis. In some soil samples, the concentrations of Cd, Cr and Ni exceeded the permissible limits; however, their accumulation in plants was lower due to the physical and chemical properties of the soils, which prevented their translocation to plants. Although the concentration of Mn was found within the safe limits in fruiting vegetables, it was above the recommended international standards in some leafy plant specimens. Portulaca olerácea has shown its potential as phytoremediation species for most of the selected heavy metals in the study area. © by PSP.