Active biomonitoring of heavy metal pollution using Rosa rugosa plants.
The purpose of this work was to evaluate the quality of a rural area near Faenza (Italy) by using an active biomonitoring approach, i.e., by placing homogeneous individuals of the perennial shrub Rosa rugosa in different sites throughout the area. Further sites, within the city or its environs, were used for comparison. Soil and leaves of R. rugosa were analyzed for their heavy metal content. The total heavy metal pattern of leaves closely paralleled the pattern registered in soil, with the highest content (both in total and assimilable forms) at the site in the urban area, which is exposed to heavy traffic. Pollen quality (abortiveness and viability) was also tested as a potential indicator of pollution. Pollen abortiveness was strictly related to Pb levels in leaves, while viability was inversely related to leaf Cr content. Our results suggest that R. rugosa has the potential to be a good biomonitoring system.
Calzoni
Gian Lorenzo
GL
Dip. Biologia, Università di Bologna, via Irnerio 42, 40126 Bologna, Italy. gianlorenzo.calzoni@unibo.it
Antognoni
Fabiana
F
Pari
Elena
E
Fonti
Paolo
P
Gnes
Antonio
A
Speranza
Anna
A
D000383:Agriculture; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D007558:Italy; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011058:Pollen; D027826:Rosa / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D002104:Cadmium; D002857:Chromium; D007854:Lead; D009532:Nickel; D008628:Mercury