title: Antimony uptake by Zea mays (L.) and Helianthus annuus (L.) from nutrient solution.
abstract: We investigated the extent of Sb uptake by maize (Zea mays) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) from nutrient solutions containing concentrations from 3 to 24 mg/L of potassium antimonate, with the aim of determining the potential of Sb to enter the food chain. The maximum shoot Sb concentrations in Z. mays and H. annuus were 41 mg/kg and 77 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. There was no significant difference in Sb uptake between species. The average bioaccumulation coefficients (the plant/solution concentration quotients) were 1.02 and 1.93 for Z. mays and H. annuus, respectively. Phosphate addition did not affect plant growth or Sb uptake. Antimony uptake by both Z. mays and H. annuus is unlikely to pose a health risk to animals and humans.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Soil Protection, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Universitaetstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland. martin.tschan@env.ethz.ch
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tschan
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulin
mesh_terms: D000965:Antimony / Q000378:metabolism*; D006368:Helianthus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D012996:Solutions; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D012996:Solutions; D000965:Antimony